Astro Dog column: what Yorkshire coast stargazers can look out for in May
This month’s edition of our night sky guide marks the one year anniversary of our astronomy column.
We have enjoyed writing the column and hope that you have all enjoyed reading it over the past year.
The season of spring gets truly underway in May, and even though the nights are almost at their shortest and brightest, it’s still an excellent time to enjoy the night sky.
May is the start of the noctilucent clouds season, Saturn is beginning to return to our skies, and this month also hosts the very rare occurrence of two full moons in one calendar month.
This rare event is known as a blue moon.
Astronomy highlights for May:
•May 1, Full flower moon.
• May 4, Moon appears close to bright star Antares.
• May 6, The peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
• May 7, Moon appears close to bright star Nunki.
• May 9, Last quarter moon.
• May 16, New moon.
• May 18, Moon appears close by to planet Venus and bright star Elnath.
• May 20, Moon appears close by to planet Jupiter.
• May 21, Moon appears close by to the Beehive cluster.
• May 23, First quarter moon, plus Moon appears close to bright star Regulus.
• May 27, Moon appears close by to bright star Spica.
• May 31, Full blue moon, plus Moon appears close to bright star Antares.
You can find information about these astronomical events and more at www.astro-dog.co.uk or by watching our Night Sky Guide video for the month of May at www.youtube.com/@astrodoguk.
You can also follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/astrodoguk) and Instagram for regular astronomy content, including alerts and updates for the Northern Lights and noctilucent clouds.
If you head out to enjoy the night sky in the near future, we wish you all good luck and clear skies!