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May New Supermoon to Create Dark Skies Ideal for Stargazing

May New Supermoon to Create Dark Skies Ideal for Stargazing

The May New Supermoon, set to peak on Saturday, May 16, 2026, will create the darkest skies of the month, offering a rare opportunity for stargazers to observe constellations, planets, and celestial objects in stunning detail. Unlike a bright full supermoon, this event occurs when the moon reaches its new phase while being relatively close to Earth, rendering it nearly invisible in the night sky. This lack of moonlight enhances visibility for deep-sky observation. The event coincides with the appearance of spring constellations like Leo and Virgo, as well as the first signs of summer constellations. Additionally, a thin crescent moon will pair with Saturn on May 14, and Venus and Jupiter will align with the moon later in the month, culminating in a Blue Moon on May 31.
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Astronomy Enthusiasts Prepare for Mars and Moon Conjunction in Early Morning Sky

Astronomy Enthusiasts Prepare for Mars and Moon Conjunction in Early Morning Sky

On May 14, 2026, sky watchers in the U.S. will have the opportunity to observe a celestial event featuring Mars and the Moon. The Red Planet will be visible in the early morning sky, positioned just 7 degrees from a delicate crescent Moon. This event occurs shortly before sunrise, providing a brief window for observation. Mars, with a magnitude of 1.3, will appear low in the sky, just over 1 degree high an hour before sunrise. Observers are advised to look east about an hour before sunrise for the best view, especially from a location with a clear horizon. Binoculars or small telescopes are recommended to enhance visibility. The Moon will pass 5 degrees due north of Mars at 9 P.M. EDT, adding to the spectacle.
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Total Solar Eclipse Inspires New Wave of Eclipse Hunters

Total Solar Eclipse Inspires New Wave of Eclipse Hunters

Total Solar Eclipse Inspires New Wave of Eclipse Hunters
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Asteroid 2026 JH2 to Make Close Approach to Earth, Offering Research Opportunities

Asteroid 2026 JH2 to Make Close Approach to Earth, Offering Research Opportunities

A newly discovered asteroid, designated 2026 JH2, is set to make a close approach to Earth on May 18, 2026. The asteroid, which is bus-sized, will pass within 56,000 miles of Earth, approximately a quarter of the distance to the Moon. Despite its proximity, scientists assure there is no risk of impact. The asteroid's size and speed are comparable to the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor, which caused significant damage in Russia. This event presents a unique opportunity for scientists to study near-Earth objects and improve understanding of their trajectories and characteristics. The asteroid was detected by observatories in Arizona, Kansas, and New Mexico, highlighting the challenges of tracking small, fast-moving space rocks.
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NASA's Psyche probe nears Mars for gravity boost en route to metal-rich asteroid

NASA's Psyche probe nears Mars for gravity boost en route to metal-rich asteroid

By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES, May 14 (Reuters) - NASA's Psyche probe was headed for a close encounter with Mars on Friday and a planned gravity boost to set the spacecraft on its final course to the solar system's largest known metallic asteroid, thought to be the remnant core of an ancient
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Venus's Acidic Cloud Wall Explained by Hydraulic Jump Phenomenon

Venus's Acidic Cloud Wall Explained by Hydraulic Jump Phenomenon

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have uncovered the mechanism behind a mysterious wall of acidic clouds on Venus, which encircles the planet every few days. This phenomenon, first detected by the Japanese spacecraft Akatsuki in 2016, is explained by a hydraulic jump—a process familiar to engineers and hydrologists. On Venus, the dense atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid, driven by a Kelvin wave, creates a cloud front that stretches 6,000 kilometers along the equator. This discovery sheds light on the planet's atmospheric dynamics and the phenomenon of super-rotation, where Venus's atmosphere rotates much faster than its surface.
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NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Conducts Mars Flyby En Route to Metal Asteroid

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Conducts Mars Flyby En Route to Metal Asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is performing a gravity assist flyby of Mars to increase its speed and adjust its trajectory towards the asteroid Psyche. This maneuver involves the spacecraft passing within 2,800 miles of Mars, capturing images and testing its scientific instruments. The mission, launched in 2023, aims to study the metal-rich asteroid, believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet. The flyby provides an opportunity to refine the spacecraft's instruments and gather data on Mars, offering a unique view of the planet's crescent phase.
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How Griffith Observatory changed public astronomy

How Griffith Observatory changed public astronomy

Since its opening in 1935, Griffith Observatory has been a cornerstone of public astronomy in Los Angeles, California. Located in Griffith Park, th...
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May Astronomy Events: Venus and Moon Conjunction, Blue Moon

May Astronomy Events: Venus and Moon Conjunction, Blue Moon

May Astronomy Events: Venus and Moon Conjunction, Blue Moon
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Predicted to Crash into Moon, Raising Space Debris Concerns

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Predicted to Crash into Moon, Raising Space Debris Concerns

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage is expected to crash into the Moon on August 5, 2026. This prediction comes from Bill Gray, an independent astronomer who uses the Project Pluto software to track near-Earth objects. The rocket stage, designated 2025-010D, was launched in January 2025 and is currently in an elliptical orbit around Earth. Unlike previous Falcon 9 launches where the second stages either fell back to Earth or entered solar orbits, this stage remains in a trajectory that intersects with the Moon's gravitational path. The impact is expected to occur near the Einstein crater on the Moon's surface. This event highlights the growing issue of space debris, as the Moon is already littered with technological waste from past missions.
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Milky Way Viewing Opportunity: Rare Moonless Nights Enhance Stargazing in May

Milky Way Viewing Opportunity: Rare Moonless Nights Enhance Stargazing in May

Milky Way Viewing Opportunity: Rare Moonless Nights Enhance Stargazing in May
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Antarctic Ice Core Study Reveals Solar System's Path Through Interstellar Cloud

Antarctic Ice Core Study Reveals Solar System's Path Through Interstellar Cloud

Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have discovered traces of the isotope iron-60 in Antarctic ice cores, which are believed to have originated from supernova explosions. This isotope, which does not naturally occur on Earth in significant quantities, was found in higher concentrations than the background level from cosmic rays, indicating its extraterrestrial origin. The study suggests that the Solar System has been moving through a region known as the Local Interstellar Cloud, a formation of gas, dust, and plasma. By analyzing the distribution of iron-60 in the ice core, scientists have reconstructed the Solar System's path over the last 80,000 years, revealing that it moved from a less dense to a denser region of the cloud.