Two planets in May

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33213, 1 May 1973, Page 15

Two planets in May

Only two bright planets, Mars and Jupiter, will be in a favourable viewing position during May. The other three are too close to the Sun to be seen to advantage. Mars, in the constellation Aquarius, rises close to 0.45 a.m. throughout the month. It is now commencing to brighten, reaching a magnitude of 0.3 by the end of the month. It is still over one astronomical unit distant from the Earth and as a result still subtends a small apparent diameter. Jupiter, in the constellation Capricornus, has a magnitude of minus 2.0. Well south of the celestial equator it is coming to a very favourable viewing position. On May ij it will rise around 11.30 p.m.

on May 15 at 10.45 p.m. and on May 31 at 9.45 p.m. The distant planet Neptune reaches opposition on May 28, when its magnitude will be 8.3. It can be found at the beginning of the month on the border of Scorpius and (Ophiuchus not far from the (fourth magnitude star, Psi (Ophiuchi. The first week in May will be a good time to watch for meteors from the Eta Aquariid annual shower which is associated with Halley’s Comet. The maximum display should occur between 2.0 a.m. and 4.0 a.m. (on May 5. Then, if conditions are favourable, observers i should see the very swift, (long-pathed meteors radiating from a point near Eta Aquarii.