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May 2025 Skywatching Tips

May 4, 2025

 

 

May is a fantastic month for stargazing in the Northern Hemisphere with a variety of celestial events. One of the most striking features of May’s skies is the presence of bright planets. Jupiter and Mars can be spotted just after sunset. Saturn will be visible during the early morning hours, providing excellent opportunities for telescope observations.

For meteor shower enthusiasts, the Eta Aquariids will peak in early May. This meteor shower, originating from remnants of Halley's Comet, will be most active around May 5 and 6. While it's best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, Northern Hemisphere observers can still catch several meteors per hour, especially in the pre-dawn sky when the radiant is highest. It’s advisable to find a dark-sky location away from city lights to maximize visibility.

The Moon will play an important role in sky watching this month. The new moon on May 8 will create dark conditions, ideal for observing fainter celestial objects like nebulae and galaxies. Conversely, the full moon on May 23 might limit deep-sky visibility but will provide beautiful lunar observation opportunities.

Astronomers are eagerly anticipating a nova explosion from the binary star system T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), located about 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis. This system consists of a red giant star and a white dwarf in close orbit. Over time, the white dwarf accumulates hydrogen from its companion, leading to a thermonuclear explosion roughly every 80 years. The last recorded nova from T CrB occurred in 1946, and scientists expect the next one to happen sometime in the coming months.

When the nova occurs, T CrB will temporarily brighten to a magnitude comparable to Polaris, making it visible to the naked eye for several days. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere can locate the event by finding the Corona Borealis constellation, which lies between Arcturus and Vega. Using the handle of the Big Dipper as a guide can help pinpoint the region of the sky where the nova will appear. This rare event offers a unique opportunity for skywatchers to witness a stellar explosion without the need for telescopes. Learn more Skywatching Tips from NASA.

 

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