Classical Astronomy The blog of the Classical Astronomy Update, a free email newsletter especially for Christian homeschool families about astronomy happenings in the night sky (though everyone is welcome!) Also, watch this space for progress reports about "Signs and Seasons," the author's upcoming homeschool astronomy curriculum! 
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Lunar Conjunctions in May, 2006May, 2006 promises to be a very interesting month for lunar passages of the bright stars and planets. In the first few days of May, the waxing crescent Moon is passing through the stars of the constellation Gemini.
Saturn and the "Twin Stars"
Mighty Jupiter
Jupiter passes "opposition" on May 4, the day when the Earth passes between Jupiter and the Sun in its orbit. So Jupiter is at its closest to the Earth and a very bright object rising in the eastern sky at sunset. Though the Moon will pass wide of Jupiter this month, these celestial couplings are always a treat to see with the family.
Antares -- Down Under Leave a Comment Leave a Comment |
On Wednesday, May 3, the Moon will pass near the planet Saturn. On this night, Saturn is the bright "star" to the south of the Moon (to the Moon's left as seen from North American and Europe). This scene will also be interesting since the "twin stars" of Gemini -- Castor and Pollux -- will be seen a little bit below to the Moon's right. These celestial bodies will appear nearly in a line, as a jewel necklace in the western sky after sunset. 
The next week, on the evening of Wednesday, May 10, the waxing gibbous Moon will pass VERY CLOSE to the bright first magnitude star Spica. In the early evening after sunset, this star will look like a bright little flea riding the back of the Moon. A very close conjunction between these celestial bodies will be seen by everyone in Europe and North America. But if you were out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, you's see an "occultation" of Spica by the Moon, where the Moon's body would hide this star for about an hour! (From the Latin word "occultare," which means, "to hide.")
