Everything you always wanted to know about astronomy
By Bruce Dennis

Venus is still our earlynight beacon, reaching its peak of brilliance during May and setting in the West about one hours after the Sun. Mercury comes into view during the final 2 weeks of May. It follows Venus and is found to its lower right. At dusk, Saturn is high in the Southwest. It gets closer to Venus as the month grows older. Jupiter, another source of brightness, comes up late at night and stays up until o' dark hundred (really late or really early, depending on which way you look at this).

Venus is very bright - possibly the first 'star' you'll see at night when the darkening sky is producing its visible treasures. When the sky is dark, Venus is about 40 degrees above the horizon. Try to see Venus before the sky darkens - it can be done, but it is difficult. You'll have about n hour and a half from the time the sky darkens and Venus sets. On May 9th, Venus passes the thickness of your finger (at the end of an outstretched arm) from the M35 Star Cluster. Those of you with telescopes must see this! This passing will be at Gemini's feet, just above Orion. On May 19th, Venus joins the crescent Moon, and they'll be less than a fingerwidth apart. You'll enjoy this near-conjunction. Check it out.

Mercury comes out from behind the Sun during the first week of May. During the second half of the month, Mercury gets higher and higher in the sky as the Sun sets. During this time, it'll get dimmer because we are seeing a smaller and smaller phase of the planet. You'll see Mercury hovering about a fist-width above the Westnorthwest horizon during May's second half.

Looking high in the Southwest at dusk, you'll see Saturn. It, initially, is above Venus to Venus' left. As the month goes on, the two get closer together. The ringed planet has always been the 'star' of the show, but be sure to observe it before midnight, because it'll set by 1 or 2 AM.

Jupiter will rise about 11 PM on May 1st and rise earlier each night until you'll see it rising at about Sunrise on June 1st. Since it's directly opposite the Sun (in opposition), it'll be visible for most of the night. Jupiter will probably not be a good target for viewing, because even at its highest, it'll be low in the South. You'll be able to see a bright beacon, but it won't be crisp and 'in focus'. Try it anyway.

Mars rises dimly in the dawn sky. It'll be low in the East-southeast, but don't expect much. It'll be too dim and small to see any details.

The Moon will be near Mars on the 12th and 13th. On the 17th, the Moon rises West of Mercury in the Westnorthwest. On the 19th, the Moon and Venus will be really close. Be sure not to miss this conjunction because it'll be very spectacular! On the 20th, the Moon lines up with Castor and Pollux (the bright heads of Gemini). Saturn is very close to the Moon on the 22nd. The second full Moon of the month (the 'Blue Moon') occurs on May 31st. As the Moon rises, Jupiter will be to its left.

This is one of the best times to observe the night sky. The temperature is warm enough that it is not too uncomfortable to dress appropriately. The bugs aren't out yet (depending upon where you are), and the 'dark' sky is available for your viewing pleasure before you get too tired. Just be sure that you get away from those contaminating lights (security lights, streetlights, etc.) so you can get a good view of the dark sky. Bring a ground cloth, lie on your back, and stare upward if you have no telescope. There's a lot up there to see. Happy viewing.

Bruce Dennis is a retired science teacher from Haverling High School.