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May Sky Guide
- Neill
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15 years 11 months ago #67673
by Neill
May Sky Guide was created by Neill
Hi all,
Sorry for the delay, trouble getting the magazine this month. Congrats to Dave Grennan if it has not already been announced, that he got his image of M1 - The Crab Nebula from 12th Feb this year in the SKAN mag for May. Anyway enjoy the guide.
OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are BST and are based on an observing location of Belfast)
The Sun
At the start of the month the Sun rises at 05:45 and sets at 21:00. By the end of the month, it rises at 04:55 and sets at 21:50.
The Planets
On the evenings of the 21st – 24th, Mars moves through M44 – The Beehive Cluster.
Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation on the 14th and as a result is well placed for observation, especially in the first half of the month before it moves back in towards the Sun in the second half. It can be observed low in the West after sunset. At the start of the month, it sets at 22:45 with a mag of -0.8 and by month’s end it sets at 22:20, half an hour after the Sun with a mag +3.9.
Venus is a morning object this month. However it rises only shortly before the Sun and is badly placed for observation this month. It is at superior conjunction in June.
Mars is still well placed for observation although it is fading. It rises during daylight hours and moves into Cancer from Gemini during the month. It fades from mag +1.2 to mag +1.5 during the month. By month’s end it sets at 01:40.
Jupiter is a morning object this month and can be found in Sagittarius. At the start of the month, it rises at 02:30 and by month’s end, it rises at 00:30. It brightens from mag -2.4 to mag -2.6 during the month.
Saturn is still well placed for observation this month. It rises during daylight hours and can be found in Leo. It fades from mag +0.5 to mag +0.7 during the month. By month’s end it sets at 02:20.
Uranus is a morning object this month and can be found in Aquarius. At the start of the month, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 04:35 and by month’s end it rises at 02:35, over two hours before the Sun. It maintains its brightness at mag +5.9 during the month.
Neptune is a morning object this month. It can be found in Capricornus. At the start of the month, it rises more two hours before the Sun at 03:50 and by month’s end it rises at 01:50. It maintains its brightness at mag +7.9 during the month.
The Moon
The new moon is on the 5th with the first quarter moon on the 12th. The full moon this month is on the 20th. The last quarter moon is on the 28th.
On the evening of the 6th, a 2% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies two degrees to the North-West of Mercury and is also close to M45 – The Pleiades, to the East of the cluster. All three objects will appear low in the West/North-West after sunset.
On the evening of the 8th, a 15% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies close to M35, to the East of the cluster.
On the 10th, there is a daylight occultation of Mars by a 33% illuminated waxing crescent moon. Approximate timings for Belfast are 13:25 for the disappearance and 13:51 for the reappearance of the red planet. Also on the 10th, in the evening, the moon lies between Mars and M44 – The Beehive Cluster.
On the evening of the 12th/morning of the 13th, a 57% illuminated waxing gibbous moon lies close to Saturn, to the South of the planet.
On the morning of the 24th, a 86% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies close to Jupiter, to the South-West of the planet.
On the morning of the 27th, a 60% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies within a degree of Neptune.
On the morning of the 29th, a 39% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies close to Uranus, to the North-West of the planet.
Meteors
There is one major and one minor shower this month. The major one is the Eta Aquarids. They peak on the 5th at around 19:00. The predicted ZHR is 70+. There will be no lunar interference for this shower as the new moon is on the 5th. The radiant is low in the sky in Aquarius, rising only in the pre-dawn hours.
The minor shower is the Eta Lyrids which peak on the evening of the 8th with a ZHR of 3. Lunar conditions are good with only a 15% illuminated waxing crescent moon to contend with which sets at 01:50.
Comets
Comet 17P/Holmes can be located in Auriga for the month of May. It is fading with current observations estimating its brightness at mag +5.6. It starts the month in the main body of the constellation and moves Eastward during the month towards Gemini. It is starting to slip towards the evening twilight and by month’s end will be below the horizon by midnight.
Up to date information and finder charts for comets can be found at www.aerith.net and
www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
Deep Sky
On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Leo, we have several galaxies on view including The Leo Triplet - M65, M66 and NGC 3628. M95, M96 and M105 can also be observed in Leo. The place to really find galaxies is in Virgo. The Virgo Super Cluster can be found here with numerous galaxies on view. Also in Virgo, M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy can be found. In Coma Berenices, there is M64 - the Black-Eye Galaxy. Also check out the constellation Canes Venatici with the globular cluster - M3 and several galaxies including M51 - the Whirlpool Galaxy and M63 - the Sunflower Galaxy. In Hercules, two globular clusters – M92 and the excellent M13 can be observed and in Lyra – M57 – The Ring Nebula can be observed.
General Notes
Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. Check out www.stronge.org.uk/spaceweather.html for the most up-to-date information on the aurorae.
Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky -- it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon. If you are observing them when the moon has risen, restrict your efforts to the period 4 days either side of the new moon as otherwise the moonlight will be sufficient to drown them out.
Finally check out www.heavens-above.com for the latest passes of the International Space Station and satellites, details of Space Shuttle launches and passes and for details of Iridium Flare activity.
Clear Skies
Neill McKeown
Sorry for the delay, trouble getting the magazine this month. Congrats to Dave Grennan if it has not already been announced, that he got his image of M1 - The Crab Nebula from 12th Feb this year in the SKAN mag for May. Anyway enjoy the guide.
OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are BST and are based on an observing location of Belfast)
The Sun
At the start of the month the Sun rises at 05:45 and sets at 21:00. By the end of the month, it rises at 04:55 and sets at 21:50.
The Planets
On the evenings of the 21st – 24th, Mars moves through M44 – The Beehive Cluster.
Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation on the 14th and as a result is well placed for observation, especially in the first half of the month before it moves back in towards the Sun in the second half. It can be observed low in the West after sunset. At the start of the month, it sets at 22:45 with a mag of -0.8 and by month’s end it sets at 22:20, half an hour after the Sun with a mag +3.9.
Venus is a morning object this month. However it rises only shortly before the Sun and is badly placed for observation this month. It is at superior conjunction in June.
Mars is still well placed for observation although it is fading. It rises during daylight hours and moves into Cancer from Gemini during the month. It fades from mag +1.2 to mag +1.5 during the month. By month’s end it sets at 01:40.
Jupiter is a morning object this month and can be found in Sagittarius. At the start of the month, it rises at 02:30 and by month’s end, it rises at 00:30. It brightens from mag -2.4 to mag -2.6 during the month.
Saturn is still well placed for observation this month. It rises during daylight hours and can be found in Leo. It fades from mag +0.5 to mag +0.7 during the month. By month’s end it sets at 02:20.
Uranus is a morning object this month and can be found in Aquarius. At the start of the month, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 04:35 and by month’s end it rises at 02:35, over two hours before the Sun. It maintains its brightness at mag +5.9 during the month.
Neptune is a morning object this month. It can be found in Capricornus. At the start of the month, it rises more two hours before the Sun at 03:50 and by month’s end it rises at 01:50. It maintains its brightness at mag +7.9 during the month.
The Moon
The new moon is on the 5th with the first quarter moon on the 12th. The full moon this month is on the 20th. The last quarter moon is on the 28th.
On the evening of the 6th, a 2% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies two degrees to the North-West of Mercury and is also close to M45 – The Pleiades, to the East of the cluster. All three objects will appear low in the West/North-West after sunset.
On the evening of the 8th, a 15% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies close to M35, to the East of the cluster.
On the 10th, there is a daylight occultation of Mars by a 33% illuminated waxing crescent moon. Approximate timings for Belfast are 13:25 for the disappearance and 13:51 for the reappearance of the red planet. Also on the 10th, in the evening, the moon lies between Mars and M44 – The Beehive Cluster.
On the evening of the 12th/morning of the 13th, a 57% illuminated waxing gibbous moon lies close to Saturn, to the South of the planet.
On the morning of the 24th, a 86% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies close to Jupiter, to the South-West of the planet.
On the morning of the 27th, a 60% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies within a degree of Neptune.
On the morning of the 29th, a 39% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies close to Uranus, to the North-West of the planet.
Meteors
There is one major and one minor shower this month. The major one is the Eta Aquarids. They peak on the 5th at around 19:00. The predicted ZHR is 70+. There will be no lunar interference for this shower as the new moon is on the 5th. The radiant is low in the sky in Aquarius, rising only in the pre-dawn hours.
The minor shower is the Eta Lyrids which peak on the evening of the 8th with a ZHR of 3. Lunar conditions are good with only a 15% illuminated waxing crescent moon to contend with which sets at 01:50.
Comets
Comet 17P/Holmes can be located in Auriga for the month of May. It is fading with current observations estimating its brightness at mag +5.6. It starts the month in the main body of the constellation and moves Eastward during the month towards Gemini. It is starting to slip towards the evening twilight and by month’s end will be below the horizon by midnight.
Up to date information and finder charts for comets can be found at www.aerith.net and
www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
Deep Sky
On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Leo, we have several galaxies on view including The Leo Triplet - M65, M66 and NGC 3628. M95, M96 and M105 can also be observed in Leo. The place to really find galaxies is in Virgo. The Virgo Super Cluster can be found here with numerous galaxies on view. Also in Virgo, M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy can be found. In Coma Berenices, there is M64 - the Black-Eye Galaxy. Also check out the constellation Canes Venatici with the globular cluster - M3 and several galaxies including M51 - the Whirlpool Galaxy and M63 - the Sunflower Galaxy. In Hercules, two globular clusters – M92 and the excellent M13 can be observed and in Lyra – M57 – The Ring Nebula can be observed.
General Notes
Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. Check out www.stronge.org.uk/spaceweather.html for the most up-to-date information on the aurorae.
Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky -- it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon. If you are observing them when the moon has risen, restrict your efforts to the period 4 days either side of the new moon as otherwise the moonlight will be sufficient to drown them out.
Finally check out www.heavens-above.com for the latest passes of the International Space Station and satellites, details of Space Shuttle launches and passes and for details of Iridium Flare activity.
Clear Skies
Neill McKeown
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