May 2023 Night Sky Features Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower and Flower Moon

Next month's sky offers a plethora of exciting sights, from meteor showers to the International Space Station.

Here is everything you can see in the night sky in May 2023.

The Moon 

The following are the moon phases for the month of May

• First quarter - April 27

• Flower Moon - May 5

• Last quarter - May 12

• New moon - May 19

• First quarter - May 27

• The Flower Moon, also known as the Leaf Budding Moon, Frog Moon, and Planting Moon, owes its name to the profusion of flowers that typically blossom in May.
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The Stars And Planets

On May 3, the moon will be located next to Spica, the brightest star in the Virgo constellation. 

Additionally, on May 29, Mercury will reach one of its furthest elongations from the sun.

Throughout May, Venus will be prominent and luminous in the western sky.

Meanwhile, Mars will be situated in the Gemini constellation, and Saturn will be visible low in the southeast during the pre-dawn hours.

Misc

Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower

The meteor shower associated with Halley's Comet, active from April 19 to May 28, will reach its peak on May 6, producing up to 50 meteors per hour. 

The shower typically appears low in the sky during the early morning hours.

The International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) will be observable from May 1 to May 11,

Appearing in the eastern sky between 12:20 am and 4:20 am for a duration of up to seven minutes.