Tuesdays and Thursdays at Carr Fles Planetarium is “Birth of Planet Earth.” How did Earth come to be a life-supporting planet?
Planets, Bright Stars, and Meteor Shower in May Sky
BY JONATHAN TRUAX, ASTRONOMER, MUSKEGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S CARR-FLES PLANETARIUM
This month, become a sky watcher; see a meteor shower, enjoy views of bright stars, watch the moon move among the stars, and enjoy four naked eye planets.
In early May, Jupiter will make a fine showing in the evening sky. Look for the planet Jupiter as a bright white “star” low in the west-northwest sky, about 40 minutes after sunset. Jupiter will be above or east of the Hyades star cluster of Taurus during the first few days of the month. On the evenings of the 27th and the 28th, the thin waxing crescent is very near Jupiter.
The planet Mars is high in the western sky about 40 minutes after sunset. Locate Mars to the east of the twin stars Castor and Pollux of Gemini the Twins. The First quarter moon is near Mars the nights of May 2 and 3.
This month Saturn is best seen before dawn. Locate a fairly bright yellow “star” south of the stars forming Pisces the low in the eastern sky, about an hour before sunrise. The waning crescent moon is very near Saturn the morning of the 22nd of May.
Just east (left and below) of Saturn, sky watchers can locate the brilliant planet, Venus. in the east southeast about 45 minutes before sunrise. The waning crescent moon is very close to Venus the morning of May 23. Locate Venus as a very bright white “star” to the east of Saturn amongst the stars of the constellation Pisces.
On the 9th and 10th of May the waxing gibbous moon is very near the bright star Spica of Virgo the Virgin. Look for this month’s Full moon west of the bright red star Antares of Scorpius the Scorpion on the 13th of May.
The annual Aquariid meteor shower reaches peak activity on the mornings of May 5 and 6. Sky watchers observing a couple hours before dawn can expect to see up to 40 meteors per hour radiating from the southeast on those two mornings. This shower occurs as the Earth crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet and sweeps up dusty debris.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. through June 5, is the new Carr Fles Planetarium show “Birth of Planet Earth.” (Closed May 6 through 15 for semester break.) How did Earth come to be a life-supporting planet? This is the tale of our planet’s origins, exploring some of the greatest questions in science today.
As darkness falls after sunset this month, locate the bright yellow star Capella of Auriga, the charioteer, high in the northwest. The winter constellation of Orion can be seen very low in the west, marked by three stars in a row, the famous “belt” of Orion, just above the horizon. Use the “belt” stars pointing toward the southeast, to locate the bright blue-white star Sirius the brightest star in the Heavens. The bright white star Procyon is high in the west.
Looking high in the north, nearly overhead, locate the “Big Dipper” formed by the stars of Ursa Major. Low on the northern horizon; find a “W” forming the stars of Cassiopeia. High in the eastern sky nearly overhead, locate Arcturus of Bootes, the brightest star of summer. Low in the southeast is the bright blue star Spica of Virgo the Virgin. Very low in the northeast the bright summer star Vega is rising.
Visit the MCC Carr-Fles Planetarium website for upcoming events and call (231) 777-0289 for sky show information. Carr-Fles Planetarium is located on the Muskegon Community College campus in Room 135. Thanks to the generosity of the Reach for the Stars campaign donors, you can now experience Carr-Fles Planetarium with state-of-the-art digital projection, sound and lighting systems; all-new library of shows; and modern theater seating and domed ceiling.
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