May time "What's Up" - Blue Moon and Halley's Dust.

Here are the Month of May night sky highlights:

The Moon dominates this month with two full moons.

​May 1: The first full Moon. 

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May 16: New Moon. 

This is the best May night for peeps at the Milky Way. 

Because the Moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee) during its new phase, the skies will be at their darkest.  ​

May 31: The Blue Moon. 

This is the second full moon in a single calendar month, so it takes the "Blue Moon" title. 

It will also be an apogee (its farthest point from the Earth) Full Moon, so it will appear slightly smaller in the sky. 

Planetary & Meteor Highlights:

May 6: η-Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak. 

These fast-moving meteors are debris from Halley’s Comet. 

While they are usually better seen from the southern hemisphere, Pembrokeshire's low southern horizon over the Atlantic gives us a decent chance to spot them in the early morning hours.

May 14: Venus at Peak. 

Venus reaches its highest altitude in the evening sky, shining brilliantly as the "Evening Star" in the west after sunset.  ​

May 19–20: Triple Conjunction. 

A spectacular close approach between the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. The three brightest objects in the night sky will cluster together in the western sky just after dusk. 

Milky Way Season: 

May marks the start of prime Milky Way core visibility. 

For the best views, head to south-facing out of the way spots around the New Moon on the 16th.​

Noctilucent Clouds: 

Late May marks the start of the season for these "night-shining" clouds. 

Keep a look out towards the northern horizon about an hour and a half after sunset for electric-blue, wispy formations in the upper atmosphere.