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Visible planets and night sky guide for May

Visible planets and night sky guide. Look for the moon near Leo this evening. And don't miss Deborah Byrd's video about Venus and Jupiter!

May 22, 2026

Constellations and signs: What’s the difference?

What is the difference between the signs of the zodiac and the constellations of the zodiac? Astronomer Guy Ottewell illustrates and discusses this difference.

Guy Ottewell

Editors of EarthSky

May 20, 2026

Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … the Arietids

Up next is the daytime Arietid meteor shower, you might catch some before dawn on the mornings around June 10. Try to block out the waxing crescent moon.

Editors of EarthSky

Marcy Curran

May 6, 2026

Happy May Day! Today is an astronomy holiday

Happy May Day! This annual celebration has its roots in astronomy as 1 of 4 cross-quarter days. Dancing around a maypole is a traditional May Day celebration.

Deborah Byrd

May 1, 2026

What is a micromoon? We have 2 coming in May

What is a micromoon? It's a full or new moon near its farthest from Earth for the month. Depending on your definition, 2026 has either 2 or 3 full micromoons.

Deborah Byrd

April 29, 2026

Here’s how to see the Lunar X and V at 1st-quarter moon

Lunar X and Lunar V are optical features on the moon. They are visible through a telescope for several hours around the time of the 1st quarter moon.

Deborah Byrd

April 23, 2026

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor showers are unpredictable but nothing beats them for a fun and relaxing time under the stars. Here are our 10 tips to optimize your meteor viewing time.

EarthSky Voices

April 21, 2026

Meet M13, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules

Many stargazers call it the finest globular cluster in the northern half of the heavens. It's M13, also known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules.

Bruce McClure

April 21, 2026