All articles tagged with #stargazing
Three bright planets will glow after sunset this weekend, creating a planetary parade in the evening sky; binoculars or a small telescope can enhance the view, though the event is often visible to the naked eye with clear skies.
Space.com reports that the May 16, 2026 new moon will bring dark skies ideal for observing the Milky Way’s core, with Venus bright after sunset and Mars and Saturn rising near dawn as Jupiter remains visible after sunset. The article guides skygazers to seek dark locations away from light pollution and to use tools like Stellarium or Star Walk 2 to navigate the sky and even photograph the Milky Way.
During Core Season (Feb–Oct) the May 16 new moon provides the darkest skies for a rare view of the Milky Way’s dense core, best seen midnight to dawn from a dark southern horizon toward Aquila, Scutum, Sagittarius and Scorpius; plan a moonless, low-light-location outing before summer twilight shortens the viewing window.
Space.com says May offers the best window to spot the Milky Way’s glowing core, especially around the May 16 new moon when skies are darkest. Peak visibility runs from midnight to dawn in dark-sky southern skies, with the core arching through Aquila, Scutum, Sagittarius and Scorpius. For best results, head to a dark location away from light pollution and use astronomy apps (e.g., Stellarium, Sky Safari) to plan, and consider astrophotography tips to capture the galaxy’s core.
Jupiter and Venus will align in the western sky with a slim, crescent Moon in mid‑May, offering a prime stargazing moment from sunset to midnight; Jupiter will sit high near Gemini (Pollux and Castor) and dominate the sky, while Venus, far brighter, will appear lower. The alignment is strongest between May 18–20—with Mercury also in the vicinity—and a telescope may reveal Jupiter’s cloud bands and its moons Io and Ganymede, aided by Earthshine reflecting off Venus.
The 2026 Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks overnight May 5–6 with up to ~50 meteors per hour under ideal skies. The radiant lies in Aquarius and northern observers typically see activity after midnight toward dawn, while southern tropical skies can offer brighter displays. A bright waning gibbous Moon (84% lit) rises just after midnight, potentially washing out fainter meteors, so the best viewing is in the pre-dawn hours from dark locations. No special equipment needed, and it's a good chance for photographers to catch fast meteor trails.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower runs April 19–May 28, with a broad peak overnight May 5–6. For northern observers, the best viewing is in the predawn hours around May 6 when the Aquarius radiant is highest. Southern Hemisphere tropics may see up to about 50 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. A bright Moon (84% illuminated) rises after midnight on May 5–6, washing out many dim meteors and likely keeping northern hourly counts below 10. To spot them, locate the Aquarius radiant with a sky app, then scan a patch about 40 degrees away from the radiant. Meteors are best seen with the naked eye, and the article also notes photography tips and a share-the-image opportunity.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak overnight May 5–6, 2026 as Earth passes through debris from Halley's Comet. In 2026, southern hemisphere observers could see up to ~50 meteors/hour, while northern observers may see ~10–30 per hour. A bright waning gibbous Moon around midnight will wash out fainter meteors, though occasional fireballs are possible. The radiant lies near Zeta Aquarii and Sadachbia in Aquarius, with the best viewing in the predawn hours of May 6.
May’s full flower moon is a micromoon, meaning the Moon is at apogee and roughly 249,180 miles from Earth. Peak brightness occurs at 1:23 p.m. ET, so most observers won’t see it at its brightest, but clear skies Friday night will still offer good stargazing. It’s the first of two full moons in May, with the next being a blue moon on May 31.
Space.com reports that Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS displayed its ion tail as it passed about 45 million miles (72 million km) from Earth, with a dust tail lagging behind. The comet heated as it neared the Sun (perihelion on April 19) and then reached its closest approach to Earth around April 26, with SOHO imagery capturing the ion tail brightening and pointing away from the Sun.
Space.com notes that the Moon will be visible in daylight this week as it grows toward its May 1 full Moon. On April 22, look to the eastern sky at noon for a ~30% lit waxing crescent near Jupiter (about 5 degrees below); binoculars can help in the bright sky. The Moon will arc across the daytime sky for U.S. observers and later grace the southwestern sky after sunset. Observing the Moon with a telescope or binoculars is safe as long as you never point at the Sun. The piece also references accessible gear (e.g., Celestron Inspire 100AZ) and tips for daytime lunar viewing and astrophotography.
Tonight (Tuesday night, April 21, 2026) the Lyrid meteor shower peaks as Earth passes through debris from Comet Thatcher, producing meteors at about 30 miles per second. Expect roughly 10 meteors per hour under dark skies, best viewed after 10 p.m. as Lyra rises in the east; give your eyes 15 minutes to adjust and avoid phone use. The Moon sets after midnight and the radiant climbs higher, with the prime viewing window an hour or two before sunrise. Jupiter will be visible west of the Moon earlier in the evening.
The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its annual peak Tuesday night (around 10 p.m. local time), with an expected rate of about 10 meteors per hour when skies are dark and you look east; the display may be visible for several nights with good conditions.
The Lyrid meteor shower, radiating from Lyra near Vega, peaks the night of April 21–22, with dark-sky observers catching about 15–20 meteors per hour from around midnight through dawn (a second viewing opportunity follows Wednesday night). The debris comes from Comet Thatcher, streaking through the atmosphere at roughly 108,000 mph about 80 miles up. No special equipment is needed—just a dark location and a comfortable spot to lie back as Lyra rises in the northeast. Even city dwellers can glimpse bright Lyrids away from lights; if clouds block the sky, you can instead monitor meteors via radar using LiveMeteors, where brighter fireballs produce louder pings. A fun fact: the parent comet won’t return near Earth again until about 2283.
The Lyrids (April 14–30) originate from Comet Thatcher’s debris and will peak in the predawn hours of April 21–22, typically producing 10–15 meteors per hour. No special gear is needed—just a clear, dark sky away from city lights, and about 15–20 minutes for your eyes to adjust, with the radiant in Lyra near Vega, best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere (some meteors may also be seen from the Southern Hemisphere).