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Happy May Day! Today is an astronomy holiday

Happy May Day! This annual celebration has its roots in astronomy as 1 of 4 cross-quarter days. Dancing around a maypole is a traditional May Day celebration.

Deborah Byrd

May 1, 2026

Visible planets and night sky guide for May

Visible planets and night sky guide. This evening around sunset, look for the full Flower Moon rising in the east. It'll set about the time of sunrise.

May 1, 2026

2026 Eta Aquariid meteor shower best before dawn on May 5

May's Eta Aquariid meteor shower is best in 2026 on the morning of May 5. Find a way to block the moonlight and watch in the hours before dawn.

Editors of EarthSky

May 1, 2026

What is a micromoon? We have 2 coming in May

What is a micromoon? It's a full or new moon near its farthest from Earth for the month. Depending on your definition, 2026 has either 2 or 3 full micromoons.

Deborah Byrd

April 29, 2026

Here’s how to see the Lunar X and V at 1st-quarter moon

Lunar X and Lunar V are optical features on the moon. They are visible through a telescope for several hours around the time of the 1st quarter moon.

Deborah Byrd

April 23, 2026

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor showers are unpredictable but nothing beats them for a fun and relaxing time under the stars. Here are our 10 tips to optimize your meteor viewing time.

EarthSky Voices

April 21, 2026

Meet M13, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules

Many stargazers call it the finest globular cluster in the northern half of the heavens. It's M13, also known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules.

Bruce McClure

April 21, 2026