How to Stargaze in May (Southern Latitudes)
Look for the Eta Aquarid meteor shower., Check out the Milky Way., Look east., Check out the Crux (Southern Cross) constellation., Look for star clusters., Look for Alpha and Beta Centauri near the Crux constellation.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Look for the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
This will be at its peak around 5-6 May.
See How to find the Eta Aquarid meteor shower for more details. -
Step 2: Check out the Milky Way.
During May, it rises high in the south during May.
The dark nebula called the Coalsack is evident during May.
Look at open clusters in Carina. , The constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius will be in the east, giving you a clear signal that winter is on its way for the southern latitudes. , This is sitting high in the southern sky.
Using a telescope, look for Acrux, Alpha Crucis, the brightest star consisting of two blue white stars (it's a double star). , There are a number of good ones to look for in May:
Look for the globular cluster NGC 5139, Omega Centauri.
It can be seen with the naked eye but if you have a telescope, you'll see the millions of stars it contains.
Look north for the globular clusters M10 and M12.
Use a small telescope.
Look south for NGC
3532.
This can be seen with the naked eye but if you use binoculars you'll see more stars.
Using a small telescope, look south for cluster NGC
3114.
Using binoculars, look south for open cluster NGC
2516.
This will be similar in size to the full moon as seen in the sky.
Looking north, and using a small telescope, look for NGC 6633 Look at the M83, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hydra.
You need a large-aperture telescope for this though.
Look north for open cluster IC 4665 near the star Cebalrai or Beta Ophiuchi.
This can be seen with binoculars. , -
Step 3: Look east.
-
Step 4: Check out the Crux (Southern Cross) constellation.
-
Step 5: Look for star clusters.
-
Step 6: Look for Alpha and Beta Centauri near the Crux constellation.
Detailed Guide
This will be at its peak around 5-6 May.
See How to find the Eta Aquarid meteor shower for more details.
During May, it rises high in the south during May.
The dark nebula called the Coalsack is evident during May.
Look at open clusters in Carina. , The constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius will be in the east, giving you a clear signal that winter is on its way for the southern latitudes. , This is sitting high in the southern sky.
Using a telescope, look for Acrux, Alpha Crucis, the brightest star consisting of two blue white stars (it's a double star). , There are a number of good ones to look for in May:
Look for the globular cluster NGC 5139, Omega Centauri.
It can be seen with the naked eye but if you have a telescope, you'll see the millions of stars it contains.
Look north for the globular clusters M10 and M12.
Use a small telescope.
Look south for NGC
3532.
This can be seen with the naked eye but if you use binoculars you'll see more stars.
Using a small telescope, look south for cluster NGC
3114.
Using binoculars, look south for open cluster NGC
2516.
This will be similar in size to the full moon as seen in the sky.
Looking north, and using a small telescope, look for NGC 6633 Look at the M83, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hydra.
You need a large-aperture telescope for this though.
Look north for open cluster IC 4665 near the star Cebalrai or Beta Ophiuchi.
This can be seen with binoculars. ,
About the Author
Ryan Anderson
Experienced content creator specializing in practical skills guides and tutorials.
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