Sky Report

May, 2026

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between May 1 and May 31, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury begins May close to the sun, and it is not safe to observe. On the 24^th, the sun sets at 7:55 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets in the west-northwest at 8:57 p.m., PDT, one hour two minutes later. On the 31^st, the sun sets at 7:59 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets at 9:31 p.m., PDT. The planet is 72-percent illuminated and is 6.0 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets on the 1^st in the west-northwest at 9:54 p.m., PDT, and the sun sets at 7:37 p.m., PDT. The planet is 87-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds wide. On the 31^st, Venus sets at 10:38 p.m., PDT, and is 80-percent illuminated and 13 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Pisces the Fishes. The planet moves into Aries the Ram on the 18^th. On the 1^st, Mars rises in the east at 5:00 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:04 a.m., PDT, one hour four minutes later. The planet is 98-percent illuminated and 4.2 arcseconds wide. On the 31^st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 4:05 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 5:43 a.m., PDT. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see the disk.

Jupiter is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1^st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 12:47 a.m., PDT, and is 36 arcseconds wide. On the 31^st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 11:04 p.m., PDT, and is 33 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons also can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Cetus the Sea Monster. On the 1^st, Saturn rises in the east at 4:46 a.m., PDT, and is 16 arcseconds wide. On the 31^st, the planet rises at 2:56 a.m., PDT. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, the planet sets in the west-northwest at 9:06 p.m., PDT. On the 7^th, the sun sets at 7:42 p.m., PDT, and Uranus sets at 8:44 p.m., PDT, one hour two minutes later. After the 7^th, Uranus is close to the sun, and it is not safe to observe it. The planet’s disk is 3.4 arcseconds wide. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 55^m 53^s, declination +20° 12ʹ 53ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see its disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Neptune rises in the east at 4:27 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, the planet rises in the east at 2:31 a.m., PDT. The planet is 2.2 arcseconds wide. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 15^m 34^s, declination +0° 14ʹ 22ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see its disk.

The moon is full on the 1^st, last quarter on the 9^th, new on the 16^th, first quarter on the 23^rd, and full again on the 31^st.

SPECIAL EVENTS

A Blue Moon will occur on May 31.  According to modern tradition, a Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a calendar month.

The eta Aquariid meteor shower will occur from the night of April 19 through May 28. The meteors come from comet Halley. They are named for the star in Aquarius the Water Bearer, from which they appear to originate. The shower is best seen from the southern hemisphere. From the northern hemisphere, it usually produces medium rates of 10 to 30 meteors per hour just before dawn. The meteors are swift with a high percentage of persistent trains but few fireballs. The peak occurs from the evening of the 5^th through the morning of the 6^th, with rates approaching 50 meteors an hour. The waning gibbous moon is 73-percent illuminated and will interfere with observations after midnight.

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May 1st is the Full Moon. Starting from the 2nd on, the Moon is waning. The New Moon on the 16th ends this cycle. From the 17th onward, the Moon is waxing which means its surface is becoming more illuminated. The Moon is full again on May 31st. The Last Quarter is on the 9th, and the First Quarter is on the 23rd.

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