Fri., May 23 5:50 7:30
Sat., May 24 5:48 7:31
Sun., May 25 5:47 7:32
Mon., May 26 5:45 7:33
Tues., May 27 5:44 7:34
Wed., May 28 5:42 7:36
Thurs., May 29 5:41 7:37
Fri., May 30 5:40 7:38
The red planet Mars is high in the northwestern sky after sunset. The dull red planet resides in the zodiacal constellation Cancer and this weekend the bright planet is in the star cluster known as The Beehive.
The planet sits amid a loose gathering of stars, one of the largest visible star clusters in our evening sky. The Beehive, also called Praesepe, is more than 525 light years away. With a pair of binoculars, an observer can try to count as many as 50 stars. Astronomers know there are at least 300 stars in the cluster. Praesepe is one of the closest star clusters to us and has been watched for centuries.
The red planet Mars moves slowly through the star cluster in the nights ahead.
Look to the east and the bright yellow planet Saturn is in residence in the zodiacal constellation Leo. Saturn is right next to and outshines the bright star Regulus.
Gibbous Moon and Jupiter
Later in the night, the gibbous moon rises in the east near midnight with Jupiter. Both are in the eastern end of the zodiacal constellation Sagittarius. The two remain low in the southern sky all the way into the morning.
For those who rise early, the moon and Jupiter are an impressive sight in the south.