WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Astronomical Events for May

Evening Planets:

                Venus goes through a dramatic change during the month of May. In the 1^st week of May Venus manages to hang on to her high position in the WNW and her maximum brightness. By the 2^nd week of May things start to change rapidly for the planet. Each evening Venus loses altitude drastically and starts to dim down. By the end of the month Venus moves into the glare of Sunset and will not be seen. This ends Venus historic evening apparition.

                Mars is high up in the South as evening darkness falls. All through the month the planet is moving away from Earth and is dimming down more. As the month progresses Mars continues to move eastward and away from the bright star Regulus. Telescopic views of Mars are rather disappointing due to Mars small apparent size.

                Saturn is up in the SE as evening darkness falls. Despite the slight drop in brightness during the month the planet is in good position for observations. Saturn's ring system and brightest moons can be viewed through a good planetary telescope.          

                Morning Planets:

                Mercury finishes up its very poor showing in the NE. It's stuck in the glare of the Sun and will be almost impossible to see. By midmonth the planet moves closer to the glare of the rising Sun and cannot be seen.

                Jupiter manages to rise up in the NE just as the month is ending. Jupiter's position is very poor and he rises up in the bright glow of twilight. Things will improve for Jupiter next month.

3 May Moon below bright star Spica and Saturn, Evening

5 May the largest Full Moon of 2012 will happen at 11:35 pm EDT

7 May Moon right of bright star Antares, Dawn

22 May Thin Crescent Moon left of Venus, Dusk

31 May Moon below bright star Spica and Saturn; forms a rough line, Evening

Annular Solar Eclipse:

                The Annular Solar Eclipse on Sunday 20 May, 2012 will not be visible from our immediate viewing area. The Sun has set before the eclipse begins. The next total Solar Eclipse for the USA will be on Monday 21 Aug, 2017. (Note: for the 2017 solar eclipse, the New England States are not in the path of totality)

Venus:

                This month Venus departs from the evening sky and ends the best apparition in over 100 years. During the first two weeks of the month; Venus is bright enough to cast faint, wispy shadows. Often these faint shadows will flicker and move about giving the shadows an eerie appearance. Venus has moved close enough towards the Earth that a good pair of binoculars will reveal her crescent shape. As the month progresses the crescent will grow thinner but bigger.

                Venus has one more spectacular rare treat for us. Next month on Tuesday 5 June, 2012 Venus will transit the Sun. This is the last Venus Transit for over a century. More information on the Venus Transit will follow later.

Written by Gary T. Nowak, Vermont Astronomical Society