Astronomy
Virginia Skylines
Virginia Skylines is a weekly radio program written and narrated by Leslie Bochenski, astronomer at the Science Museum of Virginia, and broadcast every Saturday night on WCVE. It explores the cosmos from distant galaxies to stars and constellations you can see from your own backyard here in Virginia. If there's an eclipse, a bright comet, or a major meteor shower coming soon to Virginia skies, you'll hear about it on Virginia Skylines.
Observing Mercury
This week you'll have a good chance to spot the most elusive planet: Mercury.
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Sky Happenings
Celestial Events
The first half of May will offer the best evening apparition of Mercury for 2008. Look for Mercury close to the Sun’s setting point about half an hour after sunset.
On May 5, Mars crosses from Gemini into Cancer.
On May 6 the Moon is at its 3rd closest perigee (closest to Earth) for the year, one day after New Moon. This will cause higher-than-normal spring tides at New Moon.
On May 9, Jupiter begins its retrograde loop, reversing direction against the stars as the Earth passes between Jupiter and the Sun. Its retrograde motion will last 4 months.
Saturn will be in Leo, close to Regulus, all month. Having been moving retrograde for several months, on May 3 it will be stationary against the stars, and then resume direct motion.
The smallest-appearing Full Moon of 2008 occurs on May 20, with the Moon at apogee.
On the night of May 22 Mars will pass through the Beehive star cluster in Cancer. This will be an interesting sight in binoculars or small telescopes at low power.
On the night of May 27 the nearly-full Moon will pass about its own diameter South of Neptune – a good chance to spot this dim gas giant planet.
New Moon occurs on May 5.
First Quarter Moon is May 12.
Full Moon happens on May 20.
Last Quarter Moon is May 28.
Planets
Venus and Mercury are near each other low in the east at Dawn.
Mars is just east of the tips of the horns of Taurus the Bull, and Saturn is just East of Aldebaran in the constellation of Leo the Lion.
Jupiter is just emerging from its conjunction with the Sun and is still in the solar glare at Dawn.
Astronomy Resources
Stargazers' forecast (visibility and transparency) for Richmond, VA
