May Skywatching Delight: Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn Come Together for a Rare Cosmic Show!

 

Introduction

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will come together for a rare cosmic show.

The planets will be aligned on May 30th with the moon appearing to pass between them.

This celestial alignment is called an "opposition" because Earth's orbit around the sun crosses paths with that of another planet (or star). When this happens, we see the object from our vantage point as being opposite in its orbit around our Sun. In other words: when Earth passes between Mars and Jupiter during its journey around our Sun (which takes 365 days), we get an up-close glimpse at these distant worlds -- one that you can see through binoculars or telescopes!

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible in the night sky this month. The planets will be at their closest to each other on May 9th and 10th. This rare phenomenon is called an "opposition" when a planet is opposite the Sun in our sky and thus appears brightest as it passes through Earth's line of sight.

The alignment offers an opportunity for you to see five bright objects--Venus (the brightest), Jupiter and Mars (second-brightest), followed by Saturn--in one view! To find them:

• Look west just after sunset or before sunrise
• Use binoculars if you want a closer look at any of these planets

The Moon's Role in May Skywatching

The Moon is a major player in this month's skywatching show. On May 2, it will be at its closest approach to Earth (a distance of about 34 million miles) and will appear larger than usual as well. This is called a supermoon, which means that the full moon will appear up to 14 percent bigger than its usual size!

The Moon also makes it easier to see other objects in space because it reflects light from our Sun back onto them--like how you can see your face in a mirror but not when there's only darkness around you. So look for Venus and Mars near the Moon on May 2nd and 3rd; Jupiter above them on May 4th; Saturn below them on May 5th; Uranus just above them on May 6th; Neptune just below them on May 7th...and so forth!

Best Places to View May Skywatching

• Where to Go to Get the Best View
• Tips for Choosing a Location
• Staying Safe

Tips for May Skywatching

• What gear to bring?
• How to prepare for the event?
• Tips for capturing photos

May Skywatching Events

If you're interested in attending a local skywatching event, there are several ways to find them. The American Meteor Society has a list of upcoming events on their website that you can search by location or date. You can also check with your local astronomy club or planetarium for information about upcoming events.

If you do decide to attend an event, here are some tips for making the most of it:

• Bring binoculars! They'll help you get closer views of objects like planets and nebulae than telescopes will allow--and they're much easier to transport than telescopes too! If possible, bring both binoculars and telescopes so everyone at the viewing party has access to both types of equipment.

May Skywatching Apps and Resources

For those who are interested in learning more about the night sky, there are a number of apps that can help you get started. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has an app called SkySafari 5 which is available on both iOS and Android devices for $4.99. This app includes detailed information about stars, planets and other celestial objects that you'll be able to see through your telescope or binoculars--and it provides three different ways to view the sky: real time (the current position of celestial bodies), time machine mode (where you can move backward or forward in time) or guided tour mode where you can explore specific regions of space without having to worry about finding them yourself!

Another great option is Star Chart by Escapist Games Ltd., which costs $2.99 on both iOS and Android platforms but offers many more features than just showing what's up above us right now; this app also allows users to create custom tours based on their interests so they never miss out on anything cool happening overhead while they're out stargazing!

May Skywatching Photography

While you're out in the field, here are some tips for taking the best photos of Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

• Use a tripod: Even if you have a steady hand, it's still good practice to use a tripod when shooting astronomical objects like these. The longer exposures required will help ensure that your images aren't blurry from camera shake or other factors.
• Use manual mode: If possible, switch your camera over to manual mode so that you can control shutter speed and aperture manually instead of relying on automatic settings that may not work well in dark conditions like these. This will give you more control over how much light enters the lens and affects exposure times--and therefore image quality--in ways that aren't possible when using automatic modes alone!

May Skywatching Livestreams

For those who want to get in on the action, we've got you covered. Below is a list of livestreams that will be taking place during this celestial event (all times are Eastern).

• May 9: Venus and Mars come together in the sky at 8 p.m., followed by Jupiter at 9:30 p.m., and Saturn at 10:30 p.m.
• May 11: The Moon will pass between Jupiter and Venus before meeting up with Mars later that night at 6 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 8:20 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:40 pm, 11:50 pm--and then again on May 12 from 2 aa - 3 am! You'll also be able to see Mercury shining brightly just below Venus around midnight tonight/tomorrow morning!

Conclusion

The May Skywatching Delight is a rare opportunity to see four planets in our solar system come together in one place. If you're looking to get involved, there are plenty of options:

• You can enjoy the show from your backyard or local park.
• You can join an astronomy club and learn more about what you're seeing.
• Or, if you want to get even closer, consider taking an astronomy course at a local college or university!