The May Sky

Paul Curtin

May continues the pattern of northern galaxy clusters and astounding Milky Way fields in the south. This year both hemispheres get a chance to see the asteroid Vesta with the naked eye.

Though similar in form to Ursa Major, Ursa Minor contains far fewer objects of note. Polaris (alpha) and gamma are double. With binoculars one can trace the faint but distinct circlet of stars sometimes called the “engagement ring” with Polaris as the gem.

Draco meanders from the northern Spring well into Autumn. Thuban (alpha), closest to beta and gamma Ursae Minoris, was the pole star during the age of pyramid construction in Egypt. Look for the galaxy NGC5866 (M102) south of iota. Omicron is a double star with a nice color contrast.

Follow the curve of the Big Dipper's handle to Arcturus, the brightest star in Bootes. The main part of this constellation is a kite-shaped figure with short legs and one arm raised high in the northeast. Look for the globular cluster NGC 5466 west of epsilon. There is a sprinkling of galaxies in Bootes, but they are quite challenging. Small telescopes reveal some nice multiple stars. Kappa and pi are double; epsilon, iota, and mu are triple; and xi is quadruple.

Eastern Virgo contains a number of multiple stars; some are faint., but they are worth the search. The galaxies here are less frequent than in the northwestern sector and somewhat harder to find.

Hydra, like Draco, stretches across the seasons. Look for the globular cluster M68, and the galaxy M83.

In the south, the Milky Way in Centaurus presents endless objects for study. Wide-field sweeps reveal fine, open clusters set in stunning star clouds. Look for NGC 3766, 5281, 5460, 5617 and many others.

The Planets in May

Mercury is a rather difficult object in evening twilight.

Venus is still very bright in the evening sky. Look for it near M35 on May 5, and close to the moon on May 20.

Mars continues to brighten in the early morning sky.

Vesta is a naked-eye object in Ophiuchus. See Kelly (page 195) for ephemerides.

Jupiter is a very bright object in the late evening and morning sky.

Saturn is still quite bright this month. This is a very good time to view the rings.

Bibliography

Burnham, Robert Jr., Burnham's Celestial Handbook, New York: Dover, 1978.

Kelly, P. (ed.), Observers Handbook 2007, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006.

Kepple, G. R., Sanner, G. W., The Night Sky Observers Guide, Richmond, Virginia: Willman-Bell, 1999.

Tirion, W., Rappaport, B., Remaklus, W., Uranometria Deep Sky Atlas, Richmond, Virginia: Willman-Bell, 2000.

Webb, T. W., Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, New York: Dover, 1962