Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Thursday May 7 to Thursday May 14
The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday May 10. Venus climbs higher in the twilight. Jupiter dominates the north-western sky. In the morning Saturn and Mars form a line. On the 30th comet C/2025 R3 PANSTARS is fading but still should be visible in binoculars. Eta Aquariid meteor shower 7th May.
The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday May 10.
Saturn, and Mars form a line in the twilight.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is visible above the western horizon with Jupiter nearby, you may need a level, unobscured horizon to see it.
C/2025 R3 will be visible in binoculars near the bright star Rigel.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).
Comet C/2025 R3 has now been reported visible in the Southern Hemisphere. It is probably around magnitude 5. Although this makes it theoretically dark sky visible, most observers will find binoculars best.
It is now climbing into darker skies and will be visible when the sky is full dark. I have been able to detect it in 10x50 binocular at nautical twilight, so it should remain visible when it gets fully dark for several days as at moon wanes, cloud permitting.
A printable B&W spotters chart and viewing guides are at my comet C/2025 R3 viewing page.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
The eta Aquariid meteor shower, which is produced by the debris from Halley’s Comet, should peak on May 7 (strictly speaking May 6, 3UT). This year the waning gibbous moon interferes. Dark sky sites could expect to see meteor every 6 minutes.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight.
Mars is climbing in the twilight.
Jupiter is seen most of the evening, setting before midnight. Jupiter forms a broad triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon, and a narrower triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux.
Saturn is climbing in the twilight above Mars.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
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