Its a busy month for Mars and the moonnot to mention the Eta Aquariid meteor shower.
Heres what to watch for, and when.
Mays planet-packed stargazing lineup makes that easy.
The Milky Way in the night sky during the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which is peaking in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on May 5, 2024.Credit:Thilina Kaluthotage/Getty Images
This month has everything from a meteor shower peak to multiple moon-planet meetups.
Dont forget to keep an eye on northern lights activity this month as well.
Since were in the peak period of aurora activity, a strong lights night could appear at any time.
(Last years spectacular May aurora displaysbrought vivid lights to low latitudes around the world, fromHawaiito theBahamas.)
More important, though, is finding a sky-watching locale with minimal light pollution.
(Here are some of ourfavorite DarkSky-certified spots.)
It will rise on the southeast horizon; dont miss Mars and Jupiter above the western horizon, too.
Watch the next morning, May 23, to see the moon in between Venus and Saturn.
