Topline
This weekend is about a simple but satisfying alignment in the early evening sky. As the moon brightens and climbs higher after sunset, two planets — Jupiter and Venus — will be easy to see in the western sky. Look carefully, and you could also glimpse tiny Mercury, which is now rising higher into the sky with each passing night. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and planet-watching this weekend.
Timeline
The 45%-lit waxing crescent moon is now leaving the planets behind, tonight passing close to Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
Look west just after sunset, and you’ll see Jupiter shining above a slightly brighter Venus, with dim Mercury close to the horizon. For the latter, you may need binoculars.
There’s another chance to find Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, with a bonus observation of bright star Capella — the famous “Goat Star” from the constellation Auriga. It will form an equilateral triangle with Venus and Mercury.
A Planetary Encounter Draws Near
This weekend sees the build-up to one of the year’s most striking planetary encounters. Night after night, Venus and Jupiter will appear noticeably closer together in the western sky after sunset, creating a beautiful changing tableau in twilight. Brilliant Venus dominates low in the west, with Jupiter nearby as the gap between them steadily narrows ahead of their close conjunction on June 9-11 — an encounter that will also have Mercury in attendance.
What’s Next In The Night Sky
Over the next few weeks, the moon continues to wax, reaching full phase again on May 31 and creating a rare Blue Moon, which will be best seen rising at dusk on May 30 — also the night of “Manhattanhenge” at sunset in New York City. As June begins, attention shifts to the evening sky, where Venus and Jupiter draw steadily closer. There’s a brief dark-sky window around a New Supermoon — the biggest of the year — on June 15, before the summer solstice on June 21 brings the shortest nights of the year.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
