Skywatching tips for May 2026: What's next after the Flower Moon and the Eta Aquariids?
While the Flower Moon and the Eta Aquariid meteor shower may be behind us, the May sky still has a lot to offer. Here are the four events that skywatchers should look forward to as the month nears its halfway mark.
May 12 and 13—An alignment of Mars, the Moon, and Saturn
In the early hours, about an hour before sunrise on May 12 and 13, Mars, Saturn, and the Crescent Moon will align low in the eastern sky, per National Geographic. While May 12 and 13 will see the alignment at its most optimal, the trio, featuring an even thinner Moon, will also be seen clustered together in a pyramid-like shape on May 14. Either way, to spot the alignment, make sure you have an unobstructed view of the eastern sky.
May 16—The core of the Milky Way
With the New Moon hardly offering any illumination, the night of May 16 will be the ideal time to view the core of the Milky Way galaxy at its brightest, provided you are willing to get away from city lights as well. The best views of the core will be on offer between midnight and dawn. Skywatchers can also use the opportunity of the moonless night by trying to observe the Whirlpool Galaxy and the Sombrero Galaxy via telescopes.
May 18—Venus and Moon conjunction
On May 18, just after sunset, the Moon and Venus will shine as a pair on the western horizon for roughly two hours. Mercury will also make an appearance in the west once the sky starts to darken. Jupiter, too, will be visible above the conjunction.
May 31—The Blue Moon
Contrary to what the name 'Blue Moon' may suggest, the Moon on May 31 will not be blue in color. 'Blue Moon' is actually the term given to the second Full Moon that appears in a single calendar month (the first one of this month was the Flower Moon on May 1). It happens every two to three years, per NASA, and this is where the phrase 'once in a Blue Moon' comes from.
All in all, May is not a bad time at all to turn your attention skywards. June, too, will bring its own set of skywatching events, the chief among which will be the conjunction between Venus and Jupiter, during which the planets will appear a little more than 1 degree apart from each other. That's about the width of a thumb held at arm's length.
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