The May Sky

Paul Curtin


Special Event this month: Mars moves through the open cluster M44, the Beehive, on the night of May 22-23.

May is a good month to get to know Ursa Minor, the little bear. This is a pale shadow of the main part of Ursa Major. Beta is a fine double. There is not much of interest in small telescopes here, but anyone using an equatorial mount needs to know the area around Polaris to achieve accurate polar alignment.

Also in the circumpolar region we follow Draco as it meanders from spring to the summer sky. West Draco contains some multiple stars. Look for the galaxies M102 south of iota and NGC3147 near the Ursa Major border.

One of the signals of the northern spring is the rise of Arcturus, the brightest star in Bootes. Follow the curve of the big dipper’s handle to find it. Sweep north with binoculars to locate the globular cluster NGC 5466. Bootes also contains a number of multiple stars that can be resolved with small telescopes.

Although most of the excitement in Virgo is to be found west of Spica, it is worthwhile to investigate the multiple stars in the eastern sector of this large constellation.

Eastern Hydra has some galaxies to offer. Look for NGC3309 and 3311 south of beta, M83 southeast of gamma, and M68, a globular cluster south of Corvus.

In the South the large, box-shaped form of Centaurus is a special treat. Explore the bright sections flanking both sides of Crux. Among the many deep-sky objects the globular cluster omega centauri and the galaxy NGC 5128 are the most famous. This constellation has a wide range of fascinating stars and nebulae to investigate.

The Planets in May

Mercury can be viewed early this month. Look for it low in the western evening sky.

Venus is not easy to view in May.

Mars is in Cancer this month. Its pass through M44 will be a memorable view.

Jupiter is now a late evening object.

Saturn is still a fine object as it continues its stay in Leo.

Bibliography

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

Jones, K. G. (ed.), Webb Society Deep-Sky Observer's Handbook, Volume 4, Galaxies. Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 1981.

Jones, K. G. (ed.) Webb Society Deep-Sky Observer’s Handbook. Volume 5, Clusters of Galaxies. Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 1982.

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.