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Venus and Jupiter Dominate May's Night Sky with Rare Blue Moon Event

Venus and Jupiter Dominate May's Night Sky with Rare Blue Moon Event

Venus and Jupiter Dominate May's Night Sky with Rare Blue Moon Event
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May 2026 to Feature Two Full Moons: Flower Moon and Blue Moon

May 2026 to Feature Two Full Moons: Flower Moon and Blue Moon

In May 2026, two full moons will grace the night sky, starting with the Flower Moon on May 1 and concluding with the Blue Moon on May 31. The Flower Moon, named for the abundance of springtime blooms, will peak at 1:23 p.m. ET. The Blue Moon, a term used for the second full moon in a calendar month, will peak at 4:45 a.m. ET. Both moons will be micromoons, appearing smaller and dimmer due to their position at apogee, the farthest point from Earth in their orbit.
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NASA Highlights May 2026 Skywatching Events Including Rare Blue Moon

NASA Highlights May 2026 Skywatching Events Including Rare Blue Moon

NASA has outlined several skywatching events for May 2026, including the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, a conjunction of the Moon and Venus, and a rare Blue Moon. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, peaking on May 5th and 6th, originates from Halley's Comet and can produce up to 50 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The Moon and Venus will appear close together in the sky on May 18th, offering a striking visual for observers. The month will conclude with a Blue Moon on May 31st, which is the second full moon in a single calendar month. Despite its name, the Blue Moon will not appear blue.
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Private Sector Takes Lead in Planetary Defense as Asteroid Apophis Approaches Earth

Private Sector Takes Lead in Planetary Defense as Asteroid Apophis Approaches Earth

The asteroid Apophis is set to pass by Earth in 2029 at a distance closer than some communications satellites, prompting private companies to engage in planetary defense efforts. A California-based startup, ExLabs, has announced the first commercial mission to accompany Apophis during its close approach. The mission, named Apophis EX, aims to intercept the asteroid, collect scientific data, and refine collision risk models. This initiative highlights the growing role of private enterprises in planetary protection, as government funding for such efforts remains limited.
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May Skywatching: Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower and Rare Blue Moon

May Skywatching: Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower and Rare Blue Moon

May Skywatching: Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower and Rare Blue Moon
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Mysterious Red Object May Unlock Secrets of Early Universe's Black Holes

Mysterious Red Object May Unlock Secrets of Early Universe's Black Holes

A distant object emitting X-rays, detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope, may provide insights into the enigmatic 'little red dots' (LRDs) observed in the early universe. These compact, reddish objects, located over 12 billion light-years away, have puzzled astronomers due to their unusual properties. The object, 3DHST-AEGIS-12014, stands out by emitting detectable X-rays, suggesting it could be a transitional phase of a supermassive black hole consuming its surroundings. This discovery could reshape current models of galaxy evolution and black hole growth.
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New Study Proposes Optimized Route to Mars, Reducing Travel Time to 153 Days

New Study Proposes Optimized Route to Mars, Reducing Travel Time to 153 Days

A recent study published in the journal Acta Astronautica suggests a new trajectory for traveling to Mars that could significantly reduce the journey time. Cosmologist Marcelo de Oliveira Souza from the State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro has calculated a route using the asteroid 2001 CA21, which could cut the travel time to Mars to just 153 days. This optimized path takes advantage of the asteroid's orbital plane, which crosses the orbits of both Earth and Mars at a five-degree tilt. The study highlights the 2031 Mars opposition as a particularly favorable time for this route, potentially allowing for two complete sub-year round-trip missions. Despite challenges such as propulsion methods and payload mass, this research offers a promising approach to making human-crewed missions to Mars more feasible.
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Mississippi to Witness Rare Astronomical Events with Flower and Blue Moons in May 2026

Mississippi to Witness Rare Astronomical Events with Flower and Blue Moons in May 2026

Mississippi to Witness Rare Astronomical Events with Flower and Blue Moons in May 2026
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Advocates for Pluto's Planetary Status Restoration at US Senate

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Advocates for Pluto's Planetary Status Restoration at US Senate

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has called for the restoration of Pluto's status as a planet during a US Senate hearing. Speaking to Senator Jerry Moran, Isaacman expressed his belief that Pluto should not have been reclassified as a dwarf planet, a decision made by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006. This reclassification was based on Pluto not meeting the criteria of having 'cleared its orbit' of other debris, despite orbiting the Sun and being spherical. Isaacman, confirmed as NASA Administrator in December 2025, has consistently supported this view, suggesting that Pluto's classification deserves renewed examination. The debate over Pluto's status has persisted since its reclassification, with some scientists and public figures advocating for a broader definition of what constitutes a planet.
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NASA's Galaxies SIG Seminar Explores Early Universe Discoveries with JWST

NASA's Galaxies SIG Seminar Explores Early Universe Discoveries with JWST

NASA's Galaxies Special Interest Group (SIG) is hosting a seminar on May 6, 2026, focusing on advancements in understanding galaxies during the first billion years of the universe. The seminar, led by Rebecca Larson from the Space Telescope Science Institute, will discuss the epoch of reionization, a period when the universe's neutral gas became ionized. This phase change has historically obscured the study of early galaxies. However, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revolutionized this field by providing advanced spectroscopic capabilities in the near-infrared range, allowing for the discovery and characterization of distant galaxies and active galactic nuclei. The seminar will highlight findings from the Cosmic Evolution and Early Release Science survey, revealing an unexpected abundance of bright galaxies and active galactic nuclei in the early universe.
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May 2026 Delivers Rare Double Full Moon Spectacle

May 2026 Delivers Rare Double Full Moon Spectacle

May 2026 will feature a rare celestial event with two full moons in one month. The first, the Flower Moon, peaks on May 1, marking the height of spring blooms. The second arrives on May 31 as a “blue moon,” a calendar-based rarity. This second full moon will also be a micromoon, appearing slightly smaller and dimmer. Such double full moons occur only every few years due to the Moon’s 29.5-day cycle.
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May 2026 to Feature a Flower Moon and a Rare Blue Moon

May 2026 to Feature a Flower Moon and a Rare Blue Moon

The month of May 2026 will feature two full moons, with the first, known as the Flower Moon, occurring on May 1. This full moon is named for the blooming of flowers across North America. The second full moon, known as a Blue Moon, will occur on May 31. This rare event, where two full moons appear in a single month, happens approximately every 2.5 years. The Flower Moon will be visible on the nights of April 30 and May 1, appearing full to the naked eye.