The Sky This Week: Moon, Jupiter, Venus, and Zodiacal Light
This week's astronomical guide highlights key celestial events from May 15 to May 22, focusing on evening sky observations. The period begins with the visibility of the faint constellation Crater the Cup, located near Corvus and Virgo. On May 16, the New Moon provides ideal dark skies for deep-sky observing, specifically targeting the Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631) in Canes Venatici. By May 17, the Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to Earth, while the zodiacal light remains visible in the western horizon after sunset, guided by Venus and Jupiter. As the week progresses, a waxing crescent Moon appears close to Venus on May 18, offering a striking visual pairing. The article also notes that two moons will transit Jupiter during this timeframe. These events provide ample opportunities for amateur astronomers to observe planetary alignments, galactic structures, and atmospheric phenomena like the zodiacal light before spring viewing conditions change. The guide includes specific timing for sunrise, sunset, and moon phases to assist observers in planning their viewing sessions effectively.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Current automated evidence projection