Interesting Events Above Your Head This May

Cosmic happenings, can't get enough.  Venus reaches brillance all May while Mercury can be seen in the latter part of the month, if you look to the lower right of Venus.  Excellent visibility.  Saturn intends to stay high in the southwest during the dusk hours, with Jupiter well-up in view from late to early dawning hours.

All May, Venus will swell enormously, brilliantly, as twilight fades, showing off at a magnitude of 4.0, blazing away for about l-l/2 hours after twilight.

On May 19th, Venus pairs up closely and spectacularly with the crescent moon, appearing only 2" apart during twilight viewes all throughout North America.

Also on May 19th you'll note Venus passes less than 2 degress from a star-cluster at the feet of Gemini.  You'll of course need binocs.  Venus will be passing very close to other brilliant stars while in the area of the star Epsilon Geminorum.  May is definitely a "Venus" month.  It again passes through the area of brilliant stars on May 29th.

Again, you'll need binocs and of course if you have a telescope get out there.  You'll clearly see Venus swelling and waning, back and forth, as it glows hugh, bright and brilliantly, then wanes to a mere drip of light. 

As Venus slowly puts distance between itself and our star, we welcome its brightly beaming glow.  Watch! 

Facts Courtesy Sky & Telescope, Skywatcher Mag