It’s been a full month for stargazers, including northern lights sightings, another meteor shower, and the first lunar eclipse of the year, but there’s one more treat in store before May is over.
Venus and Mars have been prominent planets in the evening sky in recent weeks, and the duo will turn into a trio during the final full week of May as another celestial object sweeps past the planets.
The crescent moon will start its approach toward Venus and Mars on the evenings of Sunday, May 21, and Monday, May 22, before appearing in between the planets after sunset on Tuesday, May 23.
No telescope is required to view the congregation in the western sky, but having one on the evening of Wednesday, May 24, could come in handy. On this night, Mars will hang directly below the crescent moon, with the two appearing so close that they may be in the same field of view when using a telescope or pair of binoculars.
Venus and Mars will gradually become closer and closer in the evening sky in the coming weeks, with the two once again being at the center of an astronomical event in the middle of June.
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