Sky Chart For The Month of May, 2010

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR MAY, 2010

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 6th at h. 09-45 I.S.T.	New Moon occurs on 14th at h. 06-34 I.S.T.
First Quarter occurs on 21^st at h. 05-13 I.S.T.	Full Moon occurs on 28th at h. 04-37 I.S.T.
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 15th.
The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 7th and Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 20th.

The Moon passes about 4½º north of Neptune on 7^th, about 6½º north of Jupiter on 9^th, about 6º north of Uranus on 10^th, about 8º north of Mercury on 12^th, close to Venus on 16^th, about 5º south of Mars on 20^th and about 8º south of Saturn on 23^rd.

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet can be seen low in the eastern sky in the morning before sunrise after 10^th and will remain visible till the beginning of the morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 1 hour before sunrise throughout the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth on 12^th. The planet approaches Aphelion position in its orbit and reaches farthest from the Sun on 12^th. The planet is in the Greatest Western Elongation of about 25 º on 26^th.

Venus: It is a brilliant object, visible in the evening in the western sky. It sets about 2 hours to 2½ hours after sunset throughout the month. The planet approaches Perihelion position in its orbit or reaches nearest to the Earth on 17^th.

Mars: The planet can be seen well after sunset in the western sky throughout the month. It sets about ½ hour after local midnight up to second quarter of the month. Thereafter it sets around local midnight time to ½ hour before it for the remaining days of the month, being in Quadrature with the Sun on 4^th.

Jupiter: The planet rises in the eastern sky after local midnight throughout the month. It rises about 2½ hours to 2 hours after local midnight upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Saturn: The planet can be seen in the evening and sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 3 hours to 2½ hours after local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth on 30^th.

Uranus: The planet rises after local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Neptune: The planet rises after local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 1½ hours to 1 hour after local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 1 to ½ hour after it upto second quarter of the month, about ½ hour after local midnight to around local midnight time upto third quarter of the month. Tthereafter it sets ½ hour before local midnight for the remaining days of the month, being in Quadrature with the Sun on 19^th.

Conjunction of Planets :

Venus passes 6½º north of Aldebaran (Rohini) on 4th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Remains in Aries (Mesha)	+4.4 to +0.2
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Tauras ( Vrisha) to Gemini (Mithun) on 15^th.	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Moves from Cancer (Karkata ) to Leo (Simha) on 26^th.	+0.8 to 1.0
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Moves for Aquaris (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 2^nd.	-2.2
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Virgo (Kanya).	+0.8 to 1.0
Uranus	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquaris (Kumbha).	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.