Mercury can be seen for the first two weeks of May for about a half hour very low in the eastern sky before sunrise moving through the constellation Pisces (the Fishes) and Aries (the Ram) into Taurus (the Bull). Mercury disappears from view as it moves into the sun’s glare by midmonth. Mercury is hard to see and not good for viewing in May. Mercury looks like a small white star.

Venus can be seen this month as it moves out of the sun’s glare into the western sky after sunset in the constellation Taurus (the Bull). Venus is the “Evening Star”. Venus is visible for about a half hour at the beginning of May but is hard to see. By the end of May, Venus will be higher in the western sky and visible for about an hour and a half after sunset. Venus looks like an extremely bright white star.

Mars can be seen rising in the southeastern sky about 4:00 a.m. crossing through the constellation Aquarius (the Water-Bearer). Mars is becoming brighter and better to view. Mars is low in the south at sunrise. Mars looks like a ruddy-colored star.

Jupiter can be seen rising in the southeastern sky at sunset in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden), about 15 degrees away from the bright star Spica. Jupiter is very bright and is in an excellent viewing position until well after midnight. The Great Red Spot and the dark bands near Jupiter’s equator are visible as well as the Galilean satellites. Jupiter passes through the southern sky and sets before dawn in the southwest. Jupiter looks like a bright yellow-colored star.

Saturn can be seen medium-high in the western sky at sunset in the constellation Gemini (the Twins), to the lower left of the bright star Pollux. Saturn appears very bright this month but is still brighter than Castor and Pollux. This is the last month to view Saturn in the evening sky. By next month, it will disappear into the sun’s glare at sunset. Saturn is moving east among the background of stars, and will be in Gemini for one more month. Saturn sets in the west around midnight. Saturn looks like a very bright amber-colored star.