Section updated: April 30th, 2026.
The transition to the spring and summer night skies is almost complete. It is really apparent now as it doesn’t really get dark until 8:30 pm. In general, for this and next month, our Galaxy will appear near our horizon. The multitude of its interesting objects will not be visible to us as they will have to compete with the light pollution from the surrounding cities. Shown here is severe compressed “fish-eye” view of the sky at 9:15 pm on May 1st. The Galaxy’s multitude of objects in its plane are identified by the thicket of objects on the west side of image.
What will wee see for this and next month, will be the region of the sky that is north of our galactic plane, the few globular clusters that orbit on their own planes around the galactic center (below the horizon to the east) and galaxies beyond our own.
To the west, we see the noticeably brighter planet Venus between the horns of Taurus the bull. Note how it will appear to climb further away from the Sun for the next few months and get progressively brighter too. We’ll start there in the early evening to observe its waning gibbous phase. Know that ancient Ptolemy, who wrote the Almagest, had insisted that it orbited on an epicycle around a fixed mid-point between the Earth and the Sun. But Galileo argued that if Venus did so, then all we would ever see of it would be its thin crescent phase as we would forever look upon its night side. So, in order for us to see Venus so fully lit up like it is now, Galileo argued that it must be on the far side of the solar system as it orbits the Sun. Viewing Venus early in the evening will give you a chance to personally eyewitness proof that the Earth is not at the center of the solar system!
In Gemini, we’ll see Castor (a triple binary star system) and Pollux (the closest red giant star to us), the planetary "Eskimo Nebula" (NGC 2392), the distant "intergalactic wandering" globular cluster (NGC 2419). The open cluster of M35 will be with the twins and the planet Jupiter with its 4 moons appearing near its sides will be there.
We’ll look at the little Beehive cluster M41, the complex Xmas Tree OC & Cone Nebula (NGC 2264), the open cluster NGC 2244 seen through the Rosette Nebula, the Butterfly Cluster (M93), the Tau Canis Major Cluster (NGC 2362), and one of the best open clusters in the sky: NGC 2477, the triple dividing open cluster M48, Messier's Lost Cluster (M47), Caroline's Cluster (NGC 2360).
In Cancer the crab we’ll find M44 Praesepe (aka the Beehive) and the King Cobra clusters, the "UFO Galaxy" (NGC 2683). There will be a much to see tonight!
The planet Mercury will be on the far side of the solar system in direct line with the Sun as it orbits around our star to appear in the western skies after this day.
By the 19th, the image’s view will appear around 8:10 pm, minus the Moon.
In Gemini’s borders, the planets Jupiter with its 4 moons and Venus will have crossed into that border by that night. Between the two planets, will be our waxing crescent Moon. Around them will be to their south the star Sirius, to their north: Castor (a triple binary star system) and Pollux (the closest red giant star to us), to their east will be the star Procyon. These stars will serve as a nice comparison to the planets to help you recognize them as you remember this little poem:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Planets don’t. There you are.
Also in Gemini, will be the planetary "Eskimo Nebula" (NGC 2392), the distant "intergalactic wandering" globular cluster (NGC 2419) and the open cluster of M35.
In Cancer the crab we’ll find M44 Praesepe (aka the Beehive) and the King Cobra clusters, the "UFO Galaxy" (NGC 2683). There will be a much to see on this night!
Hidden from our view by the Sun will be the planet Uranus. We orbit the Sun faster than it does. So, from our point of view, the Sun appears to move in front of it. After this night, we should expect to see it in the early morning eastern skies.
Following the definition of a Blue Moon being the 2nd full Moon in a month, May will achieve this on its very last night. No, it will not appear blue. That only happens with a huge volcanic pyroclastic eruption or in Smurf movies. Still, it doesn't happen very often (especially by the Smurfs).
