THEATER IN THE SKY

Venus is not only as high above the western horizon as it gets all year, but also as far north of the equator. That means the brilliant planet does not set until around 11:45 p.m. daylight-saving time. In fact, if you can get into the northwest corner of a time zone, you might be able to see a midnight Venus!

Meanwhile Mars is just beginning to fade from its maximum brightness in the southeastern sky. The rusty planet does not set until just before sunrise. To the right of Mars is Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, the Virgin. Usually planets move to the left with respect to the stars, but since the middle of March Mars has been moving backward toward Spica in what is called retrograde motion. By the time the planet resumes direct motion next month, it will be less than two degrees from Spica. This zigzag motion is really caused by the orbital motion of the earth as it passes inside the larger orbit of Mars.

To the right of Spica is the kite-shaped figure of Corvus, the Crow. This underappreciated constellation is the only break in the vast emptiness

in the southwest that comprises Hydra, the Water Snake. The legend says that Corvus claimed that a struggle with Hydra made him late returning a cup of water to a thirsty Apollo. Crater, the Cup, is a very dim collection of stars to the right of Corvus.

Jupiter is just entering the predawn sky after passing beyond the sun last month. It passes less than two degrees from departing Mercury as the month begins. Just before the middle of May, Saturn and Mercury are within one degree, but only 14 degrees from the rising sun. What makes this conjunction interesting is the fact that it is the first of four conjunctions between Saturn and Mercury that happen in four consecutive years and always just before the middle of May!

The very fat crescent moon passes in front of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, the Lion, this month. Logically, this occultation should happen on Friday the 21st, but daylight-saving time throws it into Saturday the 22nd. The star ducks behind the dark, leading edge just above the centerline at the very top of the setting moon. Binoculars may let you use dim earthshine to locate the edge of the dark half of the moon.

The moon is at perigee, closest to the earth, less then three hours after its new phase. This may be expected to produce the highest tides of the year.

1 Sat 5:20 AM Mercury to lower right of Jupiter near sunrise point

1 Sat 2:00 PM Mars nearest to the earth

5 Wed 10:00 AM Earth-Venus distance becomes less than Earth-Sun distance

8 Sat 1:30 PM. Last Quarter Moon

10 Mon 9:00 PM Venus at maximum declination north of the equator

13 Thu 5:00 AM Very thin crescent moon below Jupiter

13 Thu 5:30 AM Mercury just above Saturn, very near rising sun

15 Sat 8:05 AM New Moon

15 Sat 11:00 AM Moon at perigee; closest to the earth

22 Sat 12:16 AM Moon occults Regulus from New Jersey

22 Sat 12:22 AM Moon occults Regulus from Virginia

22 Sat 1:33 AM First Quarter Moon

25 Tue 2:00 PM Mercury at superior conjunction beyond the sun

30 Sun 2:40 AM Full Moon

30 Sun 8:00 PM Pluto at opposition from the sun; best time to observe