Look to the sky!
This month features beautiful waxing phases and two exciting conjunctions.
As twilight settles over Lee’s Summit, or your location, on the evening of May 18th, look westward to view the waxing crescent Moon and one of two conjunctions. This one is with Venus on the 18th that brings the Moon within about 3 degrees from Venus. That will be close enough to offer an opportunity to capture a striking, high-contrast image with a Seestar S50, or any other ‘Smart’ telescope, or camera, cellphone or DSLR.
Just two nights later on May 20th, as the Moon continued along its orbital path, it moves into another striking setting, in a triple conjunction between the gas giant Jupiter and the golden-orange glow of Pollux. The Moon will be about 3 degrees from Jupiter and about 6 degrees from Pollux, one of the Gemini Twins brighter stars.
Looking ahead, on the evenings of the 22nd and 23rd, the Moon will pass by the heart of the Lion, Leo’s brightest star, Regulus. On the evenings of the 26th and 27th the Moon will pass by the star Spica in Virgo the Harvest Maiden.
Be sure to get out for a look, everything will be a lot lower the next time the Moon pays a visit next month!