This is the darkest and most rewarding week of May for stargazing. With the moon fading from the morning sky and reaching new phase over the weekend, the nights become free of moonlight — revealing a sky rich with stars. Spring constellations dominate after sunset, while the first bright stars of summer begin to rise late at night. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing this week, May 11–17.
A New Supermoon will rise this week, disappearing from the night sky entirely to mark the peak of May's darkest skies.
getty
Tuesday, May 12–Wednesday, May 13Look low in the east 45 minutes before sunrise for a very thin waning crescent moon, a beautiful sight to the naked eye and fabulous in binoculars.
Thursday, May 14In the early hours, a 10%-lit waning crescent moon passes close to Saturn. The pairing is best seen 45 minutes before sunrise, low in the eastern sky. You’ll need a clear horizon and an early start — and perhaps a pair of binoculars — but it’s a rewarding double-act.
Saturday, May 16Today sees a New Supermoon, as the moon reaches its new phase — roughly between the sun and Earth — while being relatively close to Earth. Disappearing from the night sky entirely, it marks the peak of the darkest skies of the month. It could mean high tides.
Sunday, May 17After sunset, the first hint of the returning moon appears as an ultra-thin waxing crescent, just 2%-lit, very low in the western sky. Spotting it requires perfect timing and an unobstructed horizon.
With the moon absent from the evening sky, this is the best week of May to appreciate the structure of the night sky. The constellation Leo remains prominent in the southwest after dark, while Virgo — anchored by bright star Spica — stretches across the southern sky. High overhead, you’ll see the Big Dipper and red supergiant star Arcturus.
The constellation Corvus, with annotations from IAU and Sky & Telescope.
E. Slawik/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M.
With Spica in your sights, look to its left, low in the southern sky, for Corvus, a small but distinctive constellation. Its four brightest stars form a compact quadrilateral shape that stands out against the otherwise sparse background of Virgo. Corvus is not large or dramatic, but its neat, geometric shape makes it memorable.
On May 18, a slender waxing crescent moon will appear just a few degrees from brilliant Venus, low in the west after sunset. On May 19, the Moon remains close to Venus, while on May 20 it shifts higher to sit near Jupiter. Watch Venus and Jupiter draw closer together each evening, beginning a slow approach that will culminate in a close conjunction on June 9. By May 30, the second full moon of the month will rise at dusk, with the so-called Blue Moon occurring officially on May 31.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
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