The Planets

Mercury
Mercury is visible in the west-northwest near the horizon. On May 1st - 3rd look near the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Viewers using binoculars get the best views at twilight. By the end of the month this planet is too faint to be visible.

Venus
This planet is hidden from view low near the Sun at dawn.

Mars
Mars shines in the western sky above Mercury. Mars travels through the constellation Gemini the Twins the first week of May. This planet then enters Cancer the Crab. Look for this planet in the Beehive Star Cluster on May 22nd and 23rd.

Jupiter
Jupiter is in the sky close to midnight. It is in the stars of the constellation Sagittarius the Archer. Jupiter appears in the south-eastern horizon. This planet is best viewed before dawn when it is high in the sky.

Saturn
This planet is high in the south at sunset. Saturn is found in the constellation Leo the Lion. Look for Saturn near Regulus the heart star of the lion. Saturn and Regulus pair all month but will not be this close again for three decades. The ring system is an attractive sight in telescopes. The rings are at maximum tilt until 2010.

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Moons and Planets

The thin crescent Moon is close to Mercury on May 6th. Mars pairs with a waxing Moon to its west on May 9th. The next night the Moon is east of Mars. The Moon nears Saturn and Regulus (the star that is the heart of the Lion) on May 12th. On May 24th at dawn the moon is a few degrees below Jupiter.

Eta Aquarid Meteors
This meteor shower from May 3rd – May 7th peaks on May 5th. In our area early risers can expect a good show during the moonless night. Look in the east around 3 A.M. 15° above the horizon or measure one fist with arm stretched full length. These meteors seem to originate in Aquarius the Water Carrier. The peak of this shower occurs between 2008 and 2010.

Star Parties

Please plan to join us for free telescope observing on Saturday, May 10. Members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society join the staff of the Noble Planetarium on the North parking lot of the museum with their telescopes. These Saturday evening Star Parties are free and open to the public.

• Saturday, May 10, 2008
• Saturday, June 14, 2008
• Saturday, July 12, 2008
• Saturday, August 9, 2008
• Saturday, September 6, 2008
• Saturday, October 4, 2008

Star Parties are free and open to the public. They are presented by the Noble Planetarium staff and members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society.

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For more information about the night sky, contact the Noble Planetarium at 817-255-9300 or planet@fwmsh.org.

Compiled by Linda Krouse and Karen J. Massey of The Noble Planetarium.


Selected by the sciLINKS program, a service of National Science
Teachers Association. Copyright 2001

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