Night sky, May 2026: What you can see tonight [maps]

The night sky tonight and on any clear night offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects you can see, from stars and constellations to bright planets, the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers.

Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful, and a good telescope or binoculars will enhance some experiences and bring some otherwise invisible objects into view.

You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier, and use our Satellite Tracker page powered by N2YO.com to find out when and how to see the International Space Station and other satellites. We also have a helpful guide on how you can see and track a Starlink satellite train.

You can also capture the night sky by using any of the best cameras for astrophotography, along with a selection of the best lenses for astrophotography.

Read on to find out what's up in the night sky tonight (planets visible now, moon phases, observing highlights this month) plus other resources (skywatching terms, night sky observing tips and further reading)

Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Calendar of observing highlights

Friday, May 1 — Full moon

May 2026 is one of those rare months that feature two full moons. Today's full moon is also known as the "Flower Moon." The expression comes from a blend of Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions, where the lunar cycle, rather than the solar calendar we use today, was used to track the seasons.

For early Native American tribes, tracking the full moons was a vital way to monitor the agricultural season. When the May Full moon rose, it signaled that the frost was finally gone, and the landscape was exploding with color and new plant life.

Today's full moon is also known as a "micromoon" (sometimes called a "minimoon"). Since the moon's orbit is not circular (it's actually elliptical), its distance from the Earth is not constant. A micromoon occurs when the moon is at (or near) its apogee (the furthest point in its elliptical orbit). Today's "Micro Flower Moon" will reach peak illumination at 1:23 p.m. EDT (1723 GMT). In the North American eastern skies, the moon will rise around 8:12 p.m. EDT.

This is not the best time to observe the moon or the night sky. Since the sun, Earth and moon are aligned, the sun's light is hitting the lunar surface directly head-on from our perspective. The moon's brightness washes out not only the rest of the sky, but its own features. The fact that the moon's brightness is reduced by as much as 30% is a slight benefit offered by a micromoon. The use of a lunar filter is highly recommended if you still want to observe the moon through a telescope this evening.

Tycho Crater is an easy target best viewed near a full moon. Its highly visible "rays" will help you spot the crater in the southern area of the moon.

Saturday, May 2 — Venus and Aldebaran

May provides an excellent opportunity to observe our "sister planet," Venus. Tonight, around 8 p.m. EDT (2400 GMT), Venus will be just over 6° away from Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. Aldebaran is the "Eye of the Bull" in the classical representation of the constellation.

Venus is a bright beacon over the western horizon after sunset this evening. It is the brightest celestial object in the night sky and a favorite naked-eye target. The planet is approximately 85% illuminated as it undergoes its waning gibbous phase. If you are using binoculars, Venus will look like an intense, blazing white light. Its glare will overwhelm the optics of standard binoculars.

A backyard telescope will reduce enough of the glare to reveal Venus's shape. Do not strain your eye attempting to spy surface details. Venus is permanently locked behind highly reflective sulfuric acid clouds, so the disk will remain perfectly blank to backyard observers.

Sunday, May 3 — Lunar Occultation of Antares

The prime viewing location for the occultation will be in the night sky of South America. The closest approach occurs around 11 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT on May 4). At that time, Antares will be a mere 0.5° north of the moon.

The moon and Antares won't clear the eastern horizon before 11:00 p.m. By the time the duo sits sufficiently high over the horizon to be seen, the distance between the two objects will be more important, but this is still a good moment to witness the close encounter of those two celestial bodies.

Antares is an interesting target for amateur astronomers. Also called the "Heart of the Scorpion," it is a bright red supergiant that stands in sharp contrast with the other blue-white stars in Scorpius.

It is also a binary system. The secondary star is a fainter, blue-white main-sequence star. It is often used to test the separating power of telescopes. Spotting the companion requires a more powerful telescope, higher magnification and a steady night sky.

Monday, May 4 — Moon at Apogee

The moon reaches its farthest point from the Earth (apogee) along its elliptical orbit at 9:00 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT). In North America, the moon will still lie below the western horizon at that time, and it will only rise around 11:18 p.m.EDT. This is the perfect time for "night owls," who will stay up past midnight to observe the moon once it has climbed higher over the horizon.

The moon will be in its waning gibbous phase (approximately 90% illuminated). Due to the "micromoon" effect, the moon will not only appear smaller, but also approximately 30% dimmer. Our natural satellite will therefore fit more easily into the field of view under low magnification, and the glare will be significantly reduced.

Since the moon is beginning to wane, the terminator (the dividing line between lunar day and night) is starting to creep across the surface. This casts long, stark shadows across the craters and mountain ranges along that edge, throwing them into brilliant 3D relief. It is the perfect time for observers to trace the rugged terrain that gets completely washed out during a Full moon.

This represents a good opportunity to observe the "Messier Craters" (a.k.a., the "Comet" Craters). Messier and Messier A are peculiar small craters created by the impact of a projectile that hit the moon at a long angle and that skipped across its surface. The grazing impact threw out two brilliant rays of ejecta, which made the craters look exactly like a comet with a double tail. The setting sun should shadow the crater floors while making that bright "comet tail" pop against the darkening lava plain.

The Rupes Cauchy and Rima Cauchy (The Scarp and the Rille) on the eastern edge of Mare Tranquilitatis are more challenging targets that will test your observing skills and the optics of your equipment. They are parallel features straddling the small, bright crater Cauchy. Rupes Cauchy is a fault scarp (a massive cliff face), and Rima Cauchy is a rille (a deep trench or canyon). They are thin and can be resolved under steady skies. Under the waxing moon, the rising sun casts a dark shadow over the cliff face (Rupes), making it look like a black line. During the waning moon, however, the setting sun directly hits the cliff face. Look for a brilliant, glowing white line (the illuminated cliff) running perfectly parallel to a dark, shadowy line (the deep trench).

The moon will still appear very bright through a telescope — bright enough to ruin your night vision and wash out subtle details. Using a "moon filter" (a neutral density filter) will significantly reduce the glare and provide a more comfortable observation session.

Tuesday, May 5 — The Coma Star Cluster

While we patiently wait for the Eta Aquarids meteor shower to peak in the predawn hours tomorrow, now is a good time to gaze at an interesting target for amateur astronomers using binoculars.

The Coma Star Cluster (also known as Melotte 111) is a sprawling open star cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair).

Binoculars are the best equipment to observe Melotte 111 because the sprawling cluster is so widely scattered that a telescope's field of view will fail to capture its full breadth. It offers a spectacular view through binoculars with dozens of blue and white stars filling the field of view.

This evening is a good opportunity to catch it under dark skies, as the moon will not rise this evening. Because a lunar day (the time it takes the moon to return to the same position in the sky) is roughly 24 hours and 50 minutes long, it occasionally skips a calendar day entirely. Even though its peak will occur only in the wee hours tomorrow, a moonless night is probably the best time to watch the Eta Aquariid meteor shower (see details May 6).

To the naked eye, the cluster appears like a faint, shimmering veil.

Wednesday, May 6 — Eta Aquarid meteor shower peak

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower will peak during the predawn hours. Unfortunately, it coincides with a bright waning gibbous moon that will be approximately 80% illuminated. In the northern hemisphere, the moon's glare after it rises just after midnight will wash out the majority of the fainter meteors, which will significantly reduce the visible hourly rate.

Thursday, May 7 — Eclipsing binary star Algol at minimum

Algol, also known as the "Devil Star," is the second-brightest star in the constellation Perseus. It is one of the most variable stars in the sky. It is also an eclipsing binary star. The eclipse, causing the dimming, lasts several hours, but the minimum period lasts only about two hours. Unfortunately, observers in eastern North America may only see the star at its normal brightness by the time it gets dark, as the minimum will occur during daylight.

You can observe the dimming of Algol with the naked eye by using nearby stars as gauges: In Andromeda, at 2.17 magnitude, Almach's brightness is similar to Algol's normal (maximum) magnitude. In Perseus, at 3.41 magnitude, Rho Persei's (also known as Gorgonea Tertia) brightness is similar to Algol's minimum magnitude. While Rho Persei is also a variable star, its magnitude changes are relatively minor and predictable. It can, therefore, be used as a yardstick for naked-eye observations of Algol's minimum.

Friday, May 8 — The Black Eye Galaxy in Coma Berenices (all night)

With the moon rising much later, the evening sky is finally dark enough to begin hunting for spring galaxies in the constellation Coma Berenices.

Coma Berenices is an absolute goldmine for galaxy hunters. Since this constellation sits almost perfectly at the North Galactic Pole, looking toward it means we are looking straight up and out of the Milky Way's dusty disk. Nothing is blocking our view into deep intergalactic space.

The Black Eye Galaxy (M64) is an easy target. It is famous for its massive dark band of light-absorbing dust in front of its bright nucleus. It appears as a bright, elongated oval in a modest telescope. At higher magnification using a more powerful telescope (6-inch diameter or more), the dark mass next to the core becomes visible.

When you are observing faint deep sky objects, a good trick is to use "averted vision," which will make them appear brighter and larger through your telescope. When you stare directly at a faint galaxy in a telescope, you focus its dim light onto your eye's cones. Because the light is too weak to trigger them, the galaxy seemingly vanishes! But, if you shift your gaze slightly to the left or right of the object, the light falls onto your highly sensitive rods, and the galaxy will suddenly "pop" into view.

The Black Eye Galaxy is only the beginning. Enjoy discovering other galaxies around M64.

Saturday, May 9 — Eta Lyrids meteor shower

It may not be the most awe-inspiring meteor shower of the year, but the Eta Lyrids are peaking today.

The Eta Lyrids meteor shower is not to be mistaken for the more well-known Lyrids meteor shower that peaks in April. Although the source of both meteor showers is in the constellation Lyra, the Eta Lyrids peak around a few weeks after the "April Lyrids." The two showers originate from the debris of two different comets.

The Eta Lyrids are best observed from the northern hemisphere; the rate of meteors per hour drops even lower in the southern hemisphere.

The narrow window between midnight and roughly 2:30 a.m. EDT will be the best time to observe the Eta Lyrids. The shower's radiant rises over the northeastern horizon around mid-evening, but some meteors that "shoot downward" below the horizon will not be visible. By midnight, the radiant will be high in the eastern sky, which will allow you to view more meteors. While lunar brightness is reduced during last quarter, it is preferable to observe the shower before the moon rises after 2:30 a.m.

Sunday, May 10 — The Leo triplet (all night)

This is a great "three for one" that features targets for both beginners and more advanced amateur astronomers. It is a magnificent group of three interacting spiral galaxies (M65, M66, and NGC3628) located just beneath the hindquarters of the classical representation of the constellation Leo. All three galaxies can fit in the field of view of a telescope at low magnification.

The first two members (M65 and M66) are the easiest targets. They are bright, slightly tilted spiral galaxies that appear as glowing ovals in modest telescopes. The third target, NGC3628 (also called the Hamburger Galaxy), appears edge-on from our perspective. It features a thick, dark dust band that cuts right through its center. Because its surface brightness is lower than that of its two neighboring galaxies, it is fainter. Using the averted vision technique (see the May 8 event for details) will help reveal more details.

Monday, May 11 — Predawn earthshine

Earthshine is an interesting phenomenon that you can observe with the naked eye today — if you are an early bird observer. The waning crescent moon will rise in the east sometime before sunrise. This is the best time to see earthshine.

If you look closely, you might notice the unlit portion of the moon glowing faintly. This glow is caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth's oceans and clouds.

Earthshine is also one of the most rewarding targets for beginner astrophotographers using only their smartphones. It's a learning experience that might require several attempts, but the results can be very satisfying.

Tuesday, May 12 — The Whirlpool Galaxy (all night)

The moon is a very thin crescent in the morning that sets shortly after 3 p.m. EDT, which leaves the evening sky dark for prime stargazing.

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), located just off the handle of the Big Dipper in the small constellation Canes Venatici, is the ultimate target for beginners and more advanced observers. It actually consists of two interacting galaxies: the massive, face-on spiral M51, and its smaller companion, NGC5195, which is actively being torn apart by gravity.

M51 is relatively easy to spot in backyard telescopes. Four to six-inch telescopes may not reveal its spiral structure, but they will show two fuzzy balls, or a figure-eight shape. Separating the two galaxies is a highly rewarding objective for a beginner.

A larger-diameter telescope will reveal the spiral structure of M51. It is one of the few galaxies where the spiral structure can be visible to the human eye. Under higher magnification and while using the averted vision technique (see the May 8 event), the core and spiral arms will be revealed.

A sought-after advanced target is the bridge of dust and stars that connects the outer spiral arm of M51 and NGC5195.

Wednesday, May 13 — Predawn trio: Saturn, Mars and the moon

The thin crescent moon will be keeping Saturn and Mars company over the predawn eastern horizon this morning. The moon will only be about 16% illuminated, which should make it easier to observe the other two planets.

Since all three celestial bodies are grouped so closely, binoculars will be the perfect tool for an ensemble view. Binocular users will be able to frame the sharp sliver of the moon, the glow of Saturn, and the reddish Mars, all three contrasting strikingly against the twilight blue of the early morning sky. Details of each planet will be revealed when observed individually in a small telescope. Saturn's rings will appear very thin, as they are ever so slowly "tilting" after being edge-on in 2025. Under a very clear sky, you might also be able to spot Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

This is an opportune moment to talk about the "Mars Disappointment." It is a very real phenomenon and a rite of passage for amateur astronomers. Mars will be a disappointing target this morning for observers hoping to see surface details with modest equipment. While close to the Earth, Mars is "tiny" — at least when compared to its giant siblings, Saturn and Jupiter, which will still reveal themselves to some extent in small telescopes. It is also, at this moment, very far away from the Earth. This morning, Mars will appear as little more than an orange-reddish speck that appears to dance and waver under the effect of atmospheric turbulence near the horizon.

For more advanced amateurs, Neptune is "photobombing" this planetary meetup, almost turning this event into a solar tour. It is invisible to the naked eye. Using Saturn and Mars as reference points, you can "star-hop" to Neptune, which will look like a faint background star in a low-power eyepiece or standard finderscope. At high magnification (150x to 200x), the Ice Giant will show as a tiny but steady bluish disk against the twinkling background stars.

Thursday, May 14 — Globular star cluster M5

The moonless night (setting shortly before 6 p.m. EDT) provides a good opportunity to observe the stunning globular star cluster M5.

Since the famous Hercules Cluster (M13) gets most of the attention in the spring, M5 is often treated as "second best." However, it is just as interesting as its big brother because, despite their shared characteristics, each globular cluster is unique and a true pleasure to observe. Globular star clusters are "jewel boxes" in the sky. There is a "WOW" factor associated with the first glimpse of a globular cluster through a telescope. For some, that feeling never goes away even after years of globular cluster observation.

In a small telescope, M5 will look like a glowing and fuzzy snowball at first. If you let your eyes relax and adjust, you will start to see why it is called a jewel box when some of its component stars on the outer edges start resolving into tiny diamonds. A globular cluster is arguably the most distinctly three-dimensional object you can look at through a telescope. Setting it apart from its spherical siblings, M5 appears slightly squashed, which makes it even more interesting to observe. Its bright and dense core also stands out from its outer halo of stars.

When it comes to magnification, globular clusters are different from galaxies and nebulae. While the faint light coming from those celestial objects does not play well with higher magnification, using a higher-powered eyepiece will darken the background sky and bring the individual stars of a globular cluster into greater detail. First, locate M5 using a low-powered eyepiece and increase the magnification later to see how much detail your equipment can bring out.

If you experience difficulty seeing the faint outer stars of the cluster, gently tap your telescope's tube. Human peripheral vision is highly sensitive to movement. The vibration from the tap will disturb the movement and your brain will immediately register dozens of stars previously not visible.

M5 is a challenging target for observers using more advanced equipment. The core will resolve into individual pinpoints of light when using a larger aperture telescope. M5's "star chains" (also called its "spider's legs") are highly sought after by advanced observers. Distinct, curved streams of stars appear to radiate outward from the central core, looking remarkably like the curved legs of a spider reaching out into the dark.

Friday, May 15 — The crescent moon meets Mars

The moon is an incredibly thin (1% illuminated) sliver of light in the very early morning hours. It will be accompanied by Mars, only a few degrees distant. It is a perfect encounter for early risers, or the nocturnal die-hards and dawn-greeters who haven't gone to sleep yet. You can also observe Saturn, which will have risen much earlier but still not too far away.

Looking east around 5:00 a.m. EDT, a beautifully thin crescent moon sits a few degrees away from the rusty spark of Mars. It is a fantastic predawn pairing for early risers with a fresh cup of coffee, or a spectacular curtain call for the all-night marathoners wrapping up their observing session.

If this is your first time observing Mars, you might be very excited and expecting to see its polar ice caps or rocky plains. However, this morning is the perfect time to introduce one of the most universal rites of passage for new observers: the "Mars Disappointment" (see the May 13 entry for details).

But do not let that keep you from hunting it down! The trick to observing Mars this month is to manage your expectations and change your tactics. Leave your high-power eyepieces behind and put in your lowest-power, widest-field lens. You can also just grab some binoculars. Instead of trying to resolve surface details, enjoy the wide-field framing. Catching that distinct, steady, rusty-red hue glowing right next to the ghostly earthshine of the crescent moon is a breathtaking visual spectacle.

Saturday, May 16 — The new moon and the naked-eye Milky Way

One of the most revealing moments in a beginner's astronomical journey is the short-lived disappointment quickly replaced by awe when they realize that the wispy cloud marring the beautiful night sky is actually the Milky Way.

Spying the Milky Way is also the most persuasive proof that you do not need expensive equipment to observe the wonders of the night sky. The naked eye, after all, is also a kind of "telescope."

Late tonight is the absolute best time of the month to pack a thermos of coffee, hit the road, and hunt down the Milky Way. If you live in a major city or even out in the sprawling suburbs, you will not see the Milky Way from your backyard. The urban light dome completely washes out the faint, delicate glow of our home galaxy. To see the Milky Way's spiral arm gently cradling our Earth, you must pack the car and drive roughly an hour away from the city limits to find true, rural dark skies. It is definitely worth the effort because standing under an ink-black sky and seeing the sheer scale of the galaxy arching over your head is worth every single mile of the drive.

In mid-May, the brightest and most spectacular section of the Milky Way (the galactic core) does not fully clear the southeastern horizon until after midnight. This is a spectacular show reserved strictly for the nocturnal diehards!

The Milky Way is simply too massive for binoculars or small telescopes; looking at it through them is like looking at a mural through a drinking straw. Your naked eyes are the absolute best instruments for this target. Bring a reclining lawn chair or a thick blanket so you can look straight up without straining your neck.

Your eyes need at least 20 to 30 minutes of complete darkness to build up the chemical (rhodopsin) necessary to see faint starlight. Put your smartphone away. A mere two seconds of screen time will ruin your night vision.

As your eyes adapt, the Milky Way will first appear as a faint, glowing band of high-altitude clouds. Once you look closer, you will notice dark, jagged, seemingly empty patches cutting through the glowing white band. This is the "Great Rift"—massive, ancient lanes of cold cosmic dust physically blocking the starlight from the core of the galaxy!

Sunday, May 17 — An inseparable pair: Bode's Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy (all night)

You may not even need to wait until the slightly illuminated moon sets around 9:50 p.m. EDT to observe the inseparable pair of galaxies M81 (Bode's Galaxy) and M82 (the Cigar Galaxy) in Ursa Major. M81 is a bright, symmetrical oval galaxy; a classic example of the "grand design" spiral galaxy viewed at a slight angle. Its bright, concentrated core is an easy target for beginners.

M82 looks entirely different, sitting only a fraction of a degree away from its sibling M81. It derives its "Cigar" appellation from its pale, ghostly appearance. It is called an "edge-on galaxy," since it appears to us completely flat from the side. The two galaxies are satisfying targets for amateurs using backyard telescopes.

Those simple glowing shapes will transform into complex structures for amateurs using more advanced equipment. M82 is known as a "starburst" galaxy undergoing a massive wave of violent star formation. Higher magnification reveals a jagged dark lane of dust that cuts through the center of the galaxy's core. M81's spiral arms are notoriously elusive. For the well-equipped amateur, the challenge is using averted vision to trace the incredibly faint, sweeping, gossamer-like spiral arms wrapped around the central hub.

Monday, May 18 — The moon meets Venus

This is a sight that never disappoints. Venus is the bright "star" of the night sky this evening, as she appears very close to a delicate crescent moon right over the western horizon.

As the sky darkens after sunset, look to the western horizon for an unmissable twilight display. A sliver of a moon will sit perfectly positioned above the brilliant planet Venus.

You do not need any equipment to observe this encounter. However, through a pair of binoculars, you will be treated to the beautiful sight of "earthshine"—the faint, ghostly glow illuminating the dark portion of the lunar disk.

Tuesday, May 19 — Jupiter and the Galilean dance

If the tiny, featureless speck of Mars earlier this week left you wanting more, tonight is the perfect night to point your binoculars or telescope toward the constellation Gemini. The early setting crescent moon will darken the sky beautifully, revealing Jupiter and Venus as the undisputed King and Queen of the night sky.

Unlike Mars, Jupiter rarely disappoints, even in entry-level equipment. It is the perfect target for a beginner scope or binoculars.

When you get Jupiter in your sights, the first thing you will notice isn't the planet itself, but the four tiny, diamond-like pinpricks of light flanking its equator. These are the Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Depending on exactly when you look, they might be clustered on one side, perfectly balanced with two on each side, hiding behind or even crossing in front of the gas giant.

If you sketch the positions of the four moons when you first set up, then check back right before you pack up for the night, you will actually be able to see that the inner moons have visibly moved along their orbits!

Wednesday, May 20 — The moon meets Jupiter

If the weather didn't cooperate for yesterday's Galilean dance, tonight offers an even more spectacular opportunity to observe the gas giant and its moons. As dusk falls, look to the western sky to find the waxing crescent moon hanging right alongside Jupiter in the constellation Gemini.

The moon and Jupiter are two of the brightest objects in the night sky, making this an unmissable naked-eye event. The encounter is even more magical when viewed through binoculars. You can easily fit the earthshine-illuminated crescent moon and Jupiter — along with a couple of its Galilean moons — into the same field of view, which is a sight that never gets boring.

More advanced observers can use this close conjunction to compare the surface brightness of the two bodies. Because Jupiter is wrapped in highly reflective clouds and the moon is made of dark, weathered rock, you will notice through a telescope that Jupiter's albedo (a fancy astronomical word for "reflectivity") is much higher than the moon's. Use a low-powered eyepiece to catch both objects in the same field of view and truly appreciate the stark contrast of their brightness and texture against the darkening sky.

Thursday, May 21 — The moon meets the Beehive Cluster

The constellation Cancer is home to one of the most popular star clusters in the spring sky: the Beehive Cluster (M44).

The relatively thin crescent of the moon's illumination won't completely overpower the cluster. Using binoculars, place the moon just outside the edge of the field of view; M44 will appear as a beautiful, sparkling swarm of dozens of stars against the dark backdrop.

This is also a must-see target for observers using wide-field refractors. Use a low-powered eyepiece to frame both the earthshine-lit dark limb of the moon and the icy blue stars of the Beehive in the same field.

Friday, May 22 — Double star Cor Caroli

In the small constellation of Canes Venatici (beneath the handle of the Big Dipper), shines the captivating double star Alpha Canum Venaticorum (Cor Caroli).

Cor Caroli is exceptionally friendly for backyard telescopes. The two stars are separated by a wide 19 arcseconds, making them an easy, clean split even at low power.

The double star is also a great test of color perception and optics. The primary star is a blinding white. The much fainter secondary star often appears to have a subtle pale yellow or copper tint. The primary is also the prototype for "Alpha-2 CVn" variables—stars with extremely powerful, shifting magnetic fields that cause massive "starspots" to rotate into view!

Saturday, May 23 — First quarter moon and occultation of Regulus

The moon reaches its first quarter phase today, hanging prominently in the southern sky at dusk. Tonight, it moves through Leo, leading to a spectacular close approach for some observers along the North American West Coast (Vancouver, Seattle) — and a full lunar occultation in the Western Pacific (New Zealand, Fiji) — of the constellation's brightest star, Regulus.

You do not need any equipment to enjoy this sight. Watch as the moon creeps eastward over the evening, eventually swallowing the bright, blue-white star. Binoculars will enhance the contrast between the star and the lunar edge.

If you are on the occultation path, use your telescope to time the ingress (disappearance) of Regulus. Because it occurs on the unlit, dark limb of the moon, the star will appear to instantly "blink" out of existence, which is a fascinating thing to behold.

Sunday, May 24 — Waxing gibbous moon

The waxing gibbous moon settles for the night in the constellation Leo. While the bright moonlight will wash out the famous "Leo Triplet" of galaxies, it provides an excellent opportunity to focus strictly on our nearest neighbor.

Point your telescope or binoculars at the moon's terminator (the dividing line between light and shadow). The craters along this line will be cast in sharp relief, showcasing jagged mountain peaks and deep crater walls.

You can cut down the glare from the moon by using a polarizing or neutral density filter. You can then push the magnification to explore the complex rille systems and terraced crater walls highlighted during this phase of the moon.

Monday, May 25 — Spring Constellations (all night)

The waxing gibbous moon makes it impossible to hunt faint nebulas tonight. However, this is the perfect time to hone celestial navigation by focusing on the brightest beacons of the season.

Start by locating the Big Dipper in the northern sky. Follow the curve of its handle outward and "Arc to Arcturus" (the brilliant orange star in Boötes), and then "Spike to Spica" (the bright blue-white star lower down in Virgo).

Use these bright guideposts to test your equipment's color rendition. Defocus your telescope slightly on Arcturus to emphasize its distinct K-type giant orange hue. Then, slew to Spica to contrast it with a searing B-type main-sequence blue.

Tuesday, May 26 — The Great Diamond of Spring (all night)

If you have been following the calendar this week, you already have all the pieces needed to identify one of the night sky's most famous asterisms. Connect the dots between Cor Caroli (which we visited on May 22), Arcturus (May 25), Spica (tomorrow's target), and Denebola at the tail of Leo. These stars form the massive "Great Diamond of Spring." If it can help you locate these stars, the gibbous moon is moving through the lower half of this asterism tonight.

While the moonlight makes it impossible to spy the popular Virgo Cluster galaxies sitting within the diamond, you can use the bright guide stars to memorize the boundaries of the asterism. Knowing this celestial real estate by heart will pay off immensely when the dark, moonless skies return.

Wednesday, May 27 — Moon near Spica

While the closest approach will occur during daytime in North America, the moon sits right beside Spica in the southern sky today.

If you have struggled to confidently identify Spica in the past, let the moon do the work for you tonight. It serves as an unmistakable guide. Spica is a very close spectroscopic binary star; this means that a telescope cannot resolve its component stars.

The pair is about five hours away from their closest point before dawn. They will be roughly 4° to 4.5° apart in the southwestern sky just before they set.

By the time the sun goes down and the pair rises again, they are now 12 hours past the closest approach. The moon will have leaped ahead to the east, leaving Spica behind by about 6.5° to 7°.

Observers in Western North America get the best view of this encounter. Look toward the west-southwest in the predawn hours (between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM PDT) to see the moon and Spica at their closest visible separation before they dip below the horizon.

Thursday, May 28 — Asteroid 29 Amphitrite at opposition

The large main-belt asteroid 29 Amphitrite reaches opposition tonight. This means that the Earth is positioned directly between the asteroid and the sun, making Amphitrite its brightest and largest, as it sits in the southern sky around midnight.

Asteroids are notoriously difficult to spot and will look exactly like faint background stars. Amphitrite is a rewarding target and challenge in a six-inch-diameter or larger telescope. Locate its position on a star chart and sketch the star field in your eyepiece. Tomorrow night, go back to the same field. The "star" that has visibly shifted is Amphitrite.

Friday, May 29 — Messier 4

By midnight, Scorpius will have cleared the southern horizon. Just to the right of the red giant star Antares lies M4, one of the closest and most spectacular globular clusters.

The bright, nearly full moon will heavily wash out the sky tonight, making M4 look like a very faint, fuzzy smudge in binoculars. Wait a few days for the moon to clear out for a much better view.

Using a "light bucket" telescope (such as a Dobsonian or Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope) at moderate to high magnification will help combat the moonlight; this will darken the background sky, increasing contrast and allowing you to resolve the beautiful, central "bar" structure of stars cutting through the core of the cluster.

Saturday, May 30 — The moon meets the scorpion's heart

Tonight is "blue moon Eve" (see the May 31 entry for more details). Late tonight, look toward the southeast to see one of the sky's most striking color contrasts. The bright, nearly full moon will be positioned just to the right of the fiery-red supergiant, Antares.

Antares is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. It is famous for its deep orange-red hue. You can use the moon to guide you to the "Heart of the Scorpion."

Sunday, May 31 — The Blue Moon

The month concludes with a grand finale: a second full moon (a "Blue Moon"). This full moon will pass exceptionally close to — and for some regions, completely occult — the fiery-red supergiant star Antares.

For most observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the moon will experience a conjunction instead of an occultation. It's a beautiful encounter, but the star will remain visible the entire time.

Watch the southern sky as the intensely bright, white lunar disk seemingly scrapes past the ruby-red star. Binoculars will reveal an almost awe-inspiring color contrast between the two objects.

If you are situated in the occultation zone, closely monitor Antares as it disappears behind the lunar limb. Since Antares is a massive supergiant (instead of a point source of light), high-speed video or keen visual observation might actually reveal the star taking a fraction of a second to fade out, rather than vanishing instantaneously!

Skywatching terms

Gibbous: Used to describe a planet or moon that is more than 50% illuminated.

Asterism: A noteworthy or striking pattern of stars within a larger constellation.

Degrees (measuring the sky): The sky is 360 degrees all the way around, which means roughly 180 degrees from horizon to horizon. It's easy to measure distances between objects: Your fist on an outstretched arm covers about 10 degrees of sky, while a finger covers about one degree.

Visual Magnitude: This is the astronomer's scale for measuring the brightness of objects in the sky. The dimmest object visible in the night sky under perfectly dark conditions is about magnitude 6.5. Brighter stars are magnitude 2 or 1. The brightest objects get negative numbers. Venus can be as bright as magnitude -4.9. The full moon is -12.7 and the sun is -26.8.

Terminator: The boundary on the moon between sunlight and shadow.

Zenith: The point in the sky directly overhead.

Night sky observing tips

Adjust to the dark: If you wish to observe fainter objects, such as meteors, dim stars, nebulas, and galaxies, give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Avoid looking at your phone's bright screen by keeping it tucked away. If you must use it, set the brightness to minimum — or cover it with clingy red film.

Light Pollution: Even from a big city, one can see the moon, a handful of bright stars, and the brightest planets — if they are above the horizon. But to fully enjoy the heavens — especially a meteor shower, the fainter constellations, or to see the amazing swath across the sky that is the disk of our home galaxy, the Milky Way — rural areas are best for night sky viewing. If you're stuck in a city or suburban area, use a tree or dark building to block ambient light (or moonlight) and help reveal fainter sky objects. If you're in the suburbs, simply turning off outdoor lights can help.

Prepare for skywatching: If you plan to be outside for more than a few minutes, and it's not a warm summer evening, dress more warmly than you think is necessary. An hour of winter observing can chill you to the bone. For meteor showers, a blanket or a lounge chair will prove to be much more comfortable than standing or sitting in a chair and craning your neck to see overhead.

Daytime skywatching: On the days surrounding the first quarter, the moon is visible in the afternoon daytime sky. At last quarter, the moon rises before sunrise and lingers in the morning sky. When Venus is at a significant angle away from the sun, it can often be spotted during the day as a brilliant point of light — but you'll need to consult an astronomy app to know when and where to look for it. When large sunspots develop on the sun, they can be seen without a telescope — as long as you use proper solar filters, such as eclipse glasses. Permanent eye damage can occur if you look at the sun for any length of time without protective eyewear.