Astroblog: Might skies 2026

Japanese morning sky on Thursday, April 14  as seen from Adelaide at 6:04 ACST (60 minutes earlier than dawn, click on to embiggen).  Saturn, the crescent Moon and Mars type a triangle above the horizon. Related views will probably be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time (60 minutes earlier than dawn)	North-western sky on Tuesday, April 19 as seen from Adelaide at 18:16 ACST (60 minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen).  Venus and he skinny crescent Moon are shut collectively. Related views will probably be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time (30 minutes after sundown)

To be learn along side the astrophiz podcast #233

 Moon:

Meteors:

The north-eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide at 5:00 am ACST on Thursday,  7 Might, the
eta Aquariid radiant is marked with a starburst. Related views will probably be
seen elsewhere in Australia on the equal native time (click on to
embiggen). 
The eta Aquariid meteor bathe, which is produced by the particles from Halley’s Comet, ought to
peak
on Might 7 (strictly talking Might 6, 3UT). This 12 months the waning gibbous moon interferes. Darkish sky websites may anticipate to
see meteor each 6 minutes. 

 

 

 

 

 

Related views will probably be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time.

 

 

 Comets:

 

Western
sky on Thursday, April 30  as seen from Adelaide at 18:30 ACST (60
minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen). Comet C/2025 R3 could also be seen
within the twilight.

Comet C/2025 R3 has survived perihelion so we have now an opportunity to view it after it’s closest to the earth on April 27. 

It
could also be seen in Australia from the twenty seventh if the brightest predictions
are right (most likely not) and from the thirtieth if extra modest predictions
are right.  The comet is low within the twilight and will fade
considerably earlier than it will get excessive sufficient in darkish skies to see
correctly. Nonetheless, on the very least it will likely be a pleasant little
binocular comet.

A printable B&W spotters chart and viewing guides are at my comet C/2025 R3 viewing web page.

Related views will probably be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time  (60 minutes after sundown).

Stars:

South-Japanese sky as seen from Adelaide at 18:47 ACST on Might 17 (90 minutes after sundown at new Moon, click on to embiggen). The constellation of Crux is distinguished with Scorpius ring under. Omega Centauri is indicated by the field. Related views will been seen elsewhere in Australia on the equal native time. (90 minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen)	South-Western sky as seen from Adelaide at 18:47 ACST on Might 17 (90 minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen). Eta Carina id indicated by the circle. The big and Small Magellanic clouds are additionally seen. Related views will been seen elsewhere in Australia on the equal native time. (90 minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen)

Orion the hunter is sinking low the west and his nemesis, Scorpius the scorpion, is rising within the east when the sky is absolutely darkish.  

It’s nearly galaxy season, with Sagittarius, and the center of the Milky method, rising. At 10 pm native time, the southern cross is at its highest, and the magnificent globular cluster Omega Centauri can be at its highest. The False cross, the southern Pleiades and the riot of clusters are round eta Carina are additionally distinguished.

Occultation of Antares 31 Might: 

The jap sky at 17:19 ACST Sunday, Might 31, as seen from Adelaide. The moon is about to occult the brilliant star Antares. The inset exhibits the telescopic view on the time. (click on to embiggen). Click on to embiggen	The jap sky at 17:31 AEST Sunday, Might 31, as seen from Sydney. The moon is about to occult the brilliant star Antares. The inset exhibits the telescopic view on the time. (click on to embiggen). Click on to embiggen	The jap sky at 17:48 AEST Sunday, Might 31, as seen from Melbourne. The moon is about to occult the brilliant star Antares. The inset exhibits the telescopic view on the time. (click on to embiggen). Click on to embiggen

The occultation of Antares, the brightest begin in Scorpio, on the thirty first of Might by the Full (blue) Moon will probably be troublesome, low on the horizon beginning at twilight. Telescope solely, unaided eye and binoculars is not going to be sufficient. 

Place	Disappears Shiny  Limb	Reappears Darkish Limb	Solar Set
Adelaide ACST	17:19	17:35	17:20
Brisbane  AEST	17:17	18:10	17:07
Canberra AEST	17:36	18:13	17:07
Darwin ACST	–	–	18:30
Hobart AEST	–	–	16:58
Melbourne AEDST	17:48	18:10	17:18
Perth AWST	–	–	17:27
Sydney AEST	17:31	18:4	17:02

Labels: Month-to-month sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:38 pm