THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM 207-780-4249   www.usm.maine.edu/planet
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70 Falmouth Street   Portland, Maine 04103 43.6667° N
 70.2667° W  Altitude:  10 feet below sea level Founded January 1970 Julian
Date:  2459338.18
2020-2021: CXXII


THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Monday, May 3, 2021
May 2021 Night Sky Calendar



*WEDNESDAY, MAY 26: MOON AT PERIGEEWEDNESDAY, MAY 26: FULL MOON*
Another super moon!  For those who might have forgotten, a super moon is
defined as a moon that is full at or around the time of perigee, which is
at its closest point to Earth.  This month, the moon reaches perigee only
9.5 hours before becoming full (reaching opposition.)   The super moon is
30% brighter and 14% larger than a micro-moon, defined as the full moon
which occurs at or around apogee, the point of greatest distance from
Earth.     As opposition and perigee are nearly simultaneous, we would have
designated this super moon as the gold event, except that...

*WEDNESDAY, MAY 26:  TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE  (GOLD EVENT!!!)*
"Why on Earth didn't you mention this event a long time ago?'
Well, let's proceed to the next graphic:

[image: Visibility_Lunar_Eclipse_2021-05-26.png]
We observers in the southern Maine region will only see the moon enter the
penumbra as it is setting.  Penumbra eclipses are essentially non-events,
anyway.    The obscuration caused by Earth's outer shadow is slight even
under the best conditions.   For us, the moon will be low on the horizon,
where viewing is not ideal due to the greater quantity of atmospheric gases
between outer space and any observer.

If it is any consolation, the full moon will pass through the upper part of
Earth's umbra and the total eclipse will be comparatively brief: 14
minutes, 30 seconds.

                                                    [image:
Lunar_eclipse_chart_close-2021May26.png]

As another consolation, we will see all of the nearly total lunar eclipse
on November 19, 2021.

*SATURDAY, MAY 29: MERCURY 0.4 DEGREES SE OF VENUS*
One will find Mercury and Venus in the western evening sky tonight.
Located about 17 degrees from the Sun, these two planets will set just
around 9:30 p.m.  This evening, they'll be less than a degree apart.
 Distinguishing between them will prove quite easy because Venus (magnitude
-3.9) will be 300 times brighter than Mercury (magnitude 2.3).


*SUNDAY, MAY 30: MOON NEAR SATURN*
We'll end the month by seeing the waning gibbous moon (72% illuminated)
close to Saturn, the most distant planet visible to the unaided eye/
Saturn and the moon will rise just after midnight and will remain visible
for the rest of the evening.

[image: skychart (1).png]


*PLANET WATCH*

*MERCURY *
*(Host constellation:  Taurus)*
One will find the first world in the western evening sky most of the
month.  Mercury will be difficult to observe at the beginning of May owing
to its proximity to the Sun in our sky. However, Mercury becomes easier to
find by late May.  However, by late month, Mercury will  not be
particularly bright (around magnitude 2.)   VERDICT:  It is best to find
Mercury late in May.  Look on May 30th, when Mercury will appear quite
close to Venus.

*VENUS*
*(Host constellation: Taurus)*
After a brief hiatus, Venus returns and will become a brilliant late
spring/summer evening sky object.     Venus will appear close to the Sun
early in May, but will draw progressively farther away as the month
progresses.      VERDICT: As is true with Mercury, Venus will be much
easier to find in late May than it will be early in the month.

*MARS (PICK PLANET!)*
*(Host constellation:  Gemini)*
As one would expect, Mars' reign as the month's pick planet will soon draw
to a close now that Venus has moved into the evening sky.    However, Mars
is May's pick planet because it is easier to find than Venus, at least for
now.   Mars will set just after midnight early in May; and just before
11:20 p.m. late in the month.   Mars maintains a consistent brightness
throughout May.  At magnitude 1.7, Mars will appear as bright as Alnitak,
the western most star in Orion's belt.  VERDICT: Although never as bright
as Venus, Mars is still easy to find in the western evening sky.

*JUPITER*
*(Host constellation:  Aquarius)*
One will find Jupiter in the morning sky this month.   On May 1st, Jupiter
rises just before 3:00 a.m.  Each night, Jupiter rises progressively
earlier so that it will appear just after 1:00 a.m. by month's end.
 Jupiter will brighten slightly throughout May, going from magnitude -2.1
on May 1st to -2.3 on May 31st.  VERDICT: Early risers will easily see
Jupiter in the eastern morning sky this month.  If you are up before the
Sun, seek out  Jupiter in the east.  It will appear brighter than any night
sky star.

*SATURN*
*(Host constellation: Capricornus)*
Saturn rises before Jupiter.  At month's beginning, the sixth world will be
up around 2:15 a.m. By the end of May, Saturn rises just before midnight.
One will see both Jupiter and Saturn in the eastern morning sky throughout
May.  As Jupiter is currently twelve times brighter than Saturn (magnitude
0.7),  one should have no problem telling these two gas giants apart.
 VERDICT;  Although not as brilliant as Jupiter, Saturn will at least be
higher in the eastern post-midnight sky than its brighter planetary
cohort.    Find it to the west of Jupiter.


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