North American Skies

Visible Planets
in association with KMGH Denver's 7
May 2007
Mercury
Mercury is in superior conjunction, meaning that it is in line with the Sun but on the far side of the Sun, on May 3 and cannot be seen about the 3rd week of the month, when it emerges into the evening sky, shortly after sunset.

Venus
Venus is quite prominent in the evening sky. Aside from the Sun and Moon, it is the single most striking object in the sky. No offense intended, but unless you are visually impaired, live in Antarctica, or never leave your underground cavern, and still can't find Venus, you need to find a new hobby.
 
Mars
Mars plays tag with Aquarius, Pisces and Cetus, but is not particular well placed for viewing in the morning sky.

Jupiter
Jupiter rises by mid-evening, and dominates the heavens after Venus sets. In the fairly obscure constellation of Ophiuchus, Jupiter stands out even more because there are not bright stars nearby, except Antares in Scorpius, which it still outshines by many times.

Saturn
Saturn, near Regulus in Leo, is well placed high in the western sky in the early evening. Due to the geometry of its orbit, this is a good time to observe the rings, as they appear most three-dimensional.

Note: only planets that are easily visible from North America with the unaided eye, or events that have some special significance, are noted here. For suggestions on observing the Moon, see the bottom of this page. Planetary distance data has been moved to a table at the bottom.

For Denver Astronomical Society Open Houses and other events, call (303) 871-5172. For Chamberlin Observatory Tuesday and Thursday Public Viewing Nights, all (303) 871-3222 for reservations. For Gates Planetarium astronomy info, call (303) 370-6316; for Museum of Nature and Science schedules or reservations, call (303) 322-7009.

OBSERVING THE MOON: "New Moon" cannot be seen at all. A few days before New Moon a thin crescent may be observed in the predawn eastern sky, and a few days after New Moon a thin crescent will appear in the western dusk. "First Quarter" Moon rises at about noon, is high in the south at sunset, and sets at roughly midnight. "Full Moon." can be seen in the east at about sunset, in the southern sky at midnight, and setting in the western sky at about dawn. "Last Quarter" Moon rises at about midnight and can be seen in the southern sky at dawn. Of course, each phase grades into the next, and the Moon may sometimes be seen in broad daylight.

Copyright 2007 Final Copy, Inc. (Limited copying, reposting and/or republication is permitted with credit and a link back to North American Skies.)

Information in this calendar has been calculated and/or derived from a variety of sources. Among them are the yearly Observer's Handbook of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada; Astronomical Tables of the Sun, Moon, and Planets by Jean Meeus; and Starry Night software by Space.com.