Don't forget Venus- which to the layperson will be the brightest "star" in the sky. I've been asked at least a half dozen times what that bright thing next to the moon was, the other night, and where did it go? I explained that it's still in about the same place- it's the moon that's moved. (Wrinkled brows usually follow.) And of course, Saturn is still in a good position for a while after sunset, and only a small spotting scope (such as used by hunters and sportsmen) is enough to reveal the planet's ringed nature. On 5/23/07, Kurt Fisher <fisherka@csolutions.net> wrote:
From Sky & T's calendar: http://skytonight.com/observing/ataglance
===================== Friday, May 25
After sunset at this time of year, when the stars begin to come out in twilight Vega [white] is at the same height in the northeast as Capella [yellow] is in the northwest. These are the brightest stars in the May evening sky - along with Arcturus [orange colored] very high in the southeast.
Saturday, May 26
With Bootes high in the evening sky, now's a fine time to check in on the semiregular red variable star V Bootis using big binoculars or a small scope. See the May Sky & Telescope, page 62.
(May's S&T recommends colorful contrast doubles gam Boo, del Boo, mu Boo and eps Boo.)
===================== My lunar notes:
On Friday, the terminator on a 9 day old Moon will be at W21 selenographic longitude, giving good views of a low level Sun rising over larger craters Copernicus, Tycho and and the "2001 Space Odyssey" crater - Clavius. Dark volcanic deposits of Sinus Aestum will be visible with 10 to 20 power binoculars.
On Saturday, the terminator on a 10 day old Moon will be at W33 selenographic longitude, giving good views of a low level Sun rising over Sinus Iridum and Promontorium Laplace. Larger telescopes (8-10") will have a good view of volcanic dome Kies Pi and smaller telescopes (6") of one of the longest fissures on the Moon (>300km) - Rima Hesiodus.
- Kurt