Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Thursday May 14 to Thursday May 21
The New Moon is Sunday May 17. In the morning Saturn and Mars form a line. On the 14th the crescent Moon is near Saturn, then on then 15th it is near Mars. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight and is close to the thin crescent Moon on the 19th. Jupiter dominates the north-western sky and is close to the crescent Moon on the 20th. Comet C/2025 R3 PANSTARS is fading but is still visible in binoculars.
The New Moon is Sunday May 17. The Moon is also at perigee, when it is closest to Earth.
Saturn, and Mars form a line in the twilight. The crescent Moon is close to Saturn, forming a triangle with Mars. The following morning the thin crescent Moon is close to Mars.
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. The thin crescent Moon is close to Venus.
C/2025 R3 will be visible in binoculars just above the bright star Saiph, which is in turn just above 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 passed through Orion's belt and is now around magnitude 6. It is climbing into darker skies higher above the horizon murk and will be visible when the sky is full dark. I have been able to detect fairly easily it in 10x50 binoculars under suburabn skies. It should remain visible when it gets fully dark for several days more, 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).
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight. I is close to the thin crescent Moon on the 19th.
Mars is climbing in the twilight. On then 15th the thin crescent Moon is near Mars.
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. Jupiter is close to the crescent Moon on the 20th.
Saturn is climbing in the twilight above Mars. On the 14th the crescent Moon is near Saturn
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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