4 minute read
YEREVAN, 20 MAY, ARMENPRESS: Saturn, with its magnificent ring system is certainly the planet to view this month. It is at its best for 2015. Visible as it rises in the southeast at nightfall until its sets in the west near dawn, Saturn reaches its closest approach to Earth on the evening/morning of May 22-23. This will present a great view of the northern face of its famous ring system to those with even a small telescope, Armenpress reports, citing The Guardian. This date happens to coincide with Saturn reaching opposition on May 23, when it will be on the opposite side of the sun from Earth (our planet comes between Saturn and the sun). On that date, Saturn will rise in the east around sunset, reach its highest point in the night sky at midnight, and then set in the west just before sunrise.
The arrival of warm spring-like weather makes lingering outside in the evening a little more pleasant. Though still cool enough for a warm coat and hat, the crisp clear evenings of May afford an excellent opportunity to take in some of the celestial wonders.
This month four planets are readily visible. Bright Venus is visible in the west just as the sun sets and remains visible until late evening, setting about three hours after sunset. Watch for the crescent moon near Venus in the days preceding and following May 21.
Jupiter is only outshone by Venus in May. The mightiest of planets is visible from dusk until late night. Once Venus sets in the west at mid-to-late evening, brilliant Jupiter dominates the night sky. It won’t be until around 2 a.m. that Jupiter finally sets, though by the end of the month, it will set closer to 1 a.m. The waxing moon slips past Jupiter on the evenings of May 22-24. Binoculars will afford an opportunity to follow Jupiter’s four largest moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto — as they perform a graceful dance around their parent planet. These four moons are often referred to as the “Galilean moons” in honor of the Italian astronomer Galileo, who, in 1610, discovered them.
The first few weeks of May present the best opportunity this year to catch sight of Mercury in the evening sky. Because it lingers so close to the sun, Mercury presents a challenge for those wishing to view the solar system’s inner most planet. However, NASA’s Messenger probe is currently orbiting around Mercury and sending absolutely stunning pictures back of this often elusive planet. Simply Google Messenger to see these pictures.
The best opportunity to find Mercury might come around tonight, when it reaches its greatest evening elongation from the sun, and should be visible just above the western horizon as dusk gives way to darkness. Try drawing an imaginary line from Jupiter through Venus to locate Mercury near the horizon, starting around 60 to 75 minutes after sunset. Be quick though, as it will disappear from view about two hours after the sun sets. Mercury remains an evening sky object until the latter part of the month, when it will pass into the morning sky.
The full moon was May 4, often referred to as the “flower moon” by the early native peoples, as this is the time of year when the first flowers start to appear.