Abstract
FULL moon occurs May 12d. 12h. 51m., U.T., and new moon or May 27d. 22h. 24m. The following conjunctions with the moon take place : May 6d. 20h., Samuni 3° S. ; May 17d. 14h., Jupiter 5° N. ; May 26d 16h., Mars 2° S. ; May 27d. 12h., Mercury 0 8° S. Mercury is an evening star, setting at 21h. 21h. 43m. and 20h. 16m., at the beginning, Middle and end of the month, respectively ; but in the latter case it is too close to the sun to be observed. The planet attains its greatest eastern elongation on May 10. Venus is an evening star and can be seen for a short time in the western sky after the middle of the month, setting 35 min. and nearly an hour after the sun on May 15 and 31, respectively. Mars is a morning star but rises too soon before the sun for favourable observation. Jupiter rises at Ih. 30m., Oh. 35m. and 23h. 33m., on May 1, 15 and 31, respectively, and is visible for a few hours before sunrise. The planet is stationary on May 20. Saturn is visible until after midnight, setting at 2h. 40m., Ih. 45m. and Oh. 45m., at the beginning, middle and end of the month, respectively, and is stationary on May 1. Only one occultation of stars brighter than magnitude 6 occurs, λ Cane, disappearing at 21h. 30·6m. on May 4.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
The Night Sky in May. Nature 163, 674 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163674e0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163674e0