Items Featured In TGP NOMINAL Xtra - May Skies 2020
ROSS HOCKHAM'S May SKY GUIDE:
On the 7th, The Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower peaks.
Although it has more Meteors an hour than the last month's Lyrids, this one has a low radiant.
Again, best in the morning but unfortunately the Moon will also wash a few out,
but still worth a look as many saw some big burn ups last month.
There should be around 28-30 Meteors per hour, radiating from just above Aquarius the constellation to the East.
On the 12th, Venus is now only 15% lit and rapidly increasing in apparent size in our skies, through a telescope.
A waning Gibbous Moon is bunched nicely with the planets Jupiter and Saturn with the red Mars not far in the morning sky.
Although these are low and not at their best till later in the year. Its still worth a peek though, But...
DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN
On 13th, have a look at where the Moon is, in the morning sky. You will see it has moved to the opposite side of Jupiter and Saturn heading towards Mars. Also the ISS will have a fly over the planets again at around 4.30am it will rise a few mins before, so go out 5 minutes early just in case. |
If you have a low western horizon and a keen eye. On the 23rd, just as the Sun sets, you may be able to make out Venus and just to its left the elusive planet Mercury. It’s a bit of a challenge for you, but should be possible to see them in the evening sky. If you managed to find them or at least Venus. On evening of the 24th should be a very thin 4% lit Moon will be with them. It's a real challenge for you, but will look awesome, if you can see or even photo it. |
The 26th Tis the season for cloud spotting, yes I said it… cloud spotting!
But not just any clouds 'Noctilucent clouds' which are dust ice crystals.
Scientist believe they come from burnt up meteors etc that hang in the atmosphere,
just before the Sun rises or after it sets.
The sun lights up these ice crystals from beneath giving you a whispy blue, white cloud,
that’s not that common but quite wicked to see.
so while you watching the morning planets or evening Venus,
wait a little longer see if you spot some (about 45mins to an hour after or before).
The Moon sits close to the big colourful Beehive Cluster or M44 Praesepe on the 27th.
It's also known a Binocular Open Cluster and is found right in the middle of the constellation 'cancer' (The Crab).
It has a wonderful array of coloured stars, young blues, whites, chilled out older yellow,
orange and then the older deeper reds.
There A few things for you to spot on the Moon on the night of the 29th.
The now famous Lunar X and V which are shapes made as the sunlight glimpses off the edges of craters down the shadowed area (The Terminator)
There is also a crater called Albategnius, which if you look, it actually seems to be a face smiling back at you.
We think it looks like Astronomy legend 'Sir Patrick Moore'
And Finally!
it's back to the Moon on the 30th, this time to a crater called Plato for an effect known as Plato's Hook.
Again it is created, where one side of the crater is lit by the sunlight,
the other casting a hook shaped shadow onto the surface.