May Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights

May offers warmer nights and later sunsets, creating beautiful opportunities to explore the night sky. This month features a spectacular meteor shower, impressive planetary alignments, and the chance to enjoy the rich star fields of spring. Find a cozy spot, let your eyes adjust, and take in the wonders of stargazing!

Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower (Early May Highlight)

One of the best meteor showers of the spring, the Eta Aquariids peak on the nights of May 5/6, 2026. These meteors originate from debris left by Halley’s Comet, making them one of the most famous annual showers.

In the UK, conditions are best in the pre-dawn hours, when the radiant in Aquarius is higher in the sky.

What to expect:

• Around 10–20 meteors per hour in UK dark-sky locations

• Fast-moving meteors with occasional bright trails

• Best viewed in the early morning darkness before sunrise

How to watch:

• Face the eastern sky before dawn

• Get away from streetlights and buildings if possible

• Allow at least 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust

• Lie back and scan the sky broadly rather than focusing on one point

The Flower Moon (Full Moon in May)

The Flower Moon reaches peak brightness on May 23, 2026. Its name reflects the abundance of spring blooms across the Northern Hemisphere.

This is one of the most photogenic full moons of the year, especially when it rises low on the horizon just after sunset, appearing large and golden due to atmospheric effects.

Best viewing tip:Look for moonrise in the east just after sunset for the most dramatic views.

Planets on Display

Planet visibility shifts as we move deeper into spring:

• Mars – Visible in the morning sky, rising before sunrise in the east

• Saturn – A consistent morning object, gradually climbing higher before dawn

• Jupiter – May still be visible very low in the western sky early in the month, but quickly fades into twilight

• Venus – Increasingly difficult to see as it approaches the Sun’s glare, making sightings brief or challenging

Spring Constellations and Early Summer Preview

May is a transition month where winter constellations fully give way to spring and early summer skies:

• Leo – Still dominant in the southwest, with the bright star Regulus

• Virgo – Prominent in the southern sky, anchored by Spica

• Boötes – High overhead, featuring the brilliant orange star Arcturus, one of the brightest in the night sky

These constellations are some of the easiest to learn, making May a great month for beginners.

The Milky Way Returns (Pre-Dawn Season Begins)

By late May, the Milky Way core begins to reappear before dawn in the UK sky. While still low, it marks the beginning of the summer Milky Way season. Look towards the southern horizon before sunrise, where star-rich regions near Sagittarius and Scorpius start to emerge.

This is the earliest taste of the spectacular summer night sky.

Final Thought

May is a quiet but rewarding month for UK stargazers. While nights are shorter, the skies still offer meteor activity, bright planets, and the early return of the Milky Way. It’s a month of transition - and the beginning of summer’s astronomical highlights.

May Stargazing Challenge: Spot the Great Hercules Cluster!

This month’s challenge is to find and observe the Great Hercules Cluster (M13), one of the brightest and best globular clusters in the northern sky.

How to Find It:

• After dark, look high in the eastern sky for the constellation Hercules.

• Find the “Keystone” - a distinctive four-star pattern that forms Hercules’s torso.

• M13 lies along the western side of the Keystone, between the stars Eta and Zeta Herculis.

Top Tips:

• Use binoculars or a small telescope for the best view - it will appear as a dense, fuzzy ball of stars.

• In very dark skies, you might even spot it with the naked eye as a faint smudge!

Bonus Challenge:

Snap a photo of the Flower Moon on May 23 and try capturing some foreground elements like trees, hills, or buildings for a dramatic composition!