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This week offers a mix of planetary meetups, meteor activity and easy binocular targets.
Look for Mercury shining beside the beautiful Messier 35, hunt down the famous double pair Mizar and Alcor and keep an eye on a spectacular close approach between Venus and Jupiter ahead of their conjunction next week.
Elsewhere in this issue, we showcase a breathtaking reader astrophoto of the Horsehead Nebula created from an incredible 115 hours of exposure time. We'll also explore why the idea of a Blue Moon has captured our imagination for generations and share a roundup of some of the best Blue Moon photos from around the world.
Here's what to watch for in the nights ahead.
Daisy Dobrijevic
Skywatching Editor
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| (Starry Night) |
Catch Mercury skimming past the beautiful open cluster Messier 35 low in the west-northwestern sky after sunset. Binoculars will frame both objects together, with Mercury appearing as a bright golden point of light beside the cluster's glittering stars. Be quick — they set soon after sunset.
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| (Starry Night) |
Look to the handle of the Big Dipper for one of the sky's famous double stars. Sharp-eyed observers may be able to separate Mizar and Alcor without optical aid, while binoculars reveal a beautiful stellar pairing. Telescope users can split Mizar itself into a striking double star.
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One of the year's most unusual meteor showers peaks before dawn. The daytime Artietids are best viewed 45-60 minutes before sunrise, when meteors can appear to shoot upward from the eastern horizon. For something a little different, radio enthusiasts can also "listen" for Arietid meteors by tuning an FM radio to an unused frequency and waiting for brief bursts of distant signals reflected off the ionized trails left behind by incoming meteors.
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| (Starry Night) |
This week's headline event sees brilliant Venus and Jupiter drawing within just a few degrees of one another in the western twilight. The dazzling planetary pairing is visible with the naked eye, while binoculars and telescopes reveal Venus' bright disk alongside Jupiter and the Galilean moons. This is the perfect preview before the planets reach conjunction on June 9.
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The second full moon of May put on a spectacular show on May 31.
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What is it about the Blue Moon that inspires us to write songs and name beers after it?
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From volcanic landscapes and a sunset eclipse to six-minute totality, here are the pros and cons of the next two total solar eclipses.
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From desert badlands to hilltop villages, these off-the-beaten-track locations offer clear views of Spain's rare sunset total solar eclipse.
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The Horsehead Nebula cuts a dark silhouette against glowing clouds in the constellation Orion.
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| Astronomy Kit and Accessories |
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These are the best telescopes for stargazing, with top models from Celestron, Unistellar and ZWO. Grab one for the Blue Moon on May 31.
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Owning one of the best tripods for your camera is essential whether you're shooting astrophotography, landscape or portraits.
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