In the Sky This Month

The modest constellation Corona Borealis, the northern crown, climbs the eastern sky this evening. It is a delicate semicircle of seven stars that really does resemble a crown.

Centaurus, the centaur, hugs the southern horizon this month. It stands due south in late evening. The brightest star of Centaurus that is visible from the United States is Theta Centauri.

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is at its best now. The shower’s peak lasts for several nights, centered around tomorrow night. At its best, the shower can produce a few dozen meteors per hour.

Antares, the bright heart of the scorpion, is a skosh away from the Moon as they climb into good view by midnight. They will still be close as dawn twilight erases the scorpion’s mighty heart from view.

Most of the star pictures in the night sky look nothing like their namesakes. But one beautiful exception lunges across the southwestern sky on May evenings: Leo, the lion. It’s high in the sky at nightfall.

In the British Isles, today is known as May Day. It is a cross-quarter day, which comes about half way between a solstice and an equinox. In centuries past, this date marked the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

Orion, one of the most beautiful constellations, is putting in its final evening appearance of the season over the next few nights. It soon will disappear in the Sun’s glare. The next time we see it, it will be in the morning sky shortly before sunrise.

Spica, the brightest star of Virgo, is quite close to the Moon as darkness falls this evening. The Moon will slide away from the star during the night, but they will still be close as they set, around dawn.

The bright orange star Aldebaran marks the eye of Taurus, the bull. It’s low in the western sky as evening twilight fades. It stands a little to the left of Venus, the brilliant Evening Star.

Several famous constellations highlight this evening’s sky. At nightfall, the “twins” of Gemini stand almost straight up in the west. Leo, the lion, is high in the south, while Virgo and Hercules are just climbing into view in the east and northeast.