THE May Heaven brings several astronomical phenomena For those who like to watch the stars. The asteroid Vesta will be visible, in addition to the rain of feet meteors and various celestial conjunctions.
The month starts with the Asteroid Vesta – The second largest of our solar system – shining in the night sky, visible with the use of binoculars. The giant asteroid is almost spherical and was therefore almost classified as a dwarf planet.
Still in the first week of May, it will also be possible to watch the rain of aquarid meteors, named in honor of the aquarium constellation. Check out tips for observing meteor rains here.
In addition, several month will be visible heavenly conjunctions, that occur when two or more celestial bodies appear very close in the sky – an optical illusion, as they follow separated by thousands of kilometers in space.
See below the Main astronomical phenomena of the month of May according to the Astronomical ephemeris guide of the Valongo Observatory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) .
- 2/5: Opposition of the asteroid Vesta. The star can be seen throughout the night using binoculars, in dark skies, in the constellation of Libra;
- 3/5: Conjunction between the moon and Mars in the early evening, northeast direction, in the constellation of cancer;
- 5/5: Conjunction of Mars with the star cluster of the crib (M 44) in the early evening, northeast direction, in the constellation of crab (cancer);
- 6/5: Maximum activity of the rain of meteors from aquaried meteors, which can be observed at dawn in the east direction;
- 14/5: Conjunction of the moon with the star Antares, in the constellation of Scorpio, at dawn;
- 17/5: Uranus in conjunction with the sun;
- 22/5: Conjunction between moon and Saturn before dawn, east direction, in
Fish constellation; - 23/5: Conjunction between moon and Venus before dawn, east direction, in the constellation of fish;
- 28/5: Conjunction between the moon and Jupiter in the twilight, northwest direction, between the constellations of Taurus and Cocheiro.
THE Astronomical Ephemeris Guide has been produced since 2016 by Valongo Observatory from the UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and brings the main phenomena that can be seen in the night sky each year.
In order to rescue interest in celestial contemplation, the material lists month by month which heavenly bodies will be visible and how best to look for them. In addition to bringing simple explanations about astronomy.
THE Complete Guide to Astronomical Ephemeris of 2025 with heaven maps, can be downloaded for free here .
Also check out astronomy applications to help locate and track astronomical phenomena in the night sky.
This content was originally published in May Heaven has meteor rain and visible asteroid on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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