SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Aries → Taurus

The equation of time reaches a local maximum of over three and a half minutes on 14 May.

Mercury Aries

The smallest planet in the solar system soon vanishes below the western horizon before reappearing mid-month in the morning sky. Inferior conjunction on 9 May presents observers with the unusual chance to see Mercury transit the Sun's disc. The next opportunity will not happen until November 2019.

Venus Aries → Taurus

Almost too low to observe from the northern hemisphere and descending fast as seen from the southern latitudes, the morning star vanishes from view by mid-month but will reappear next month in the west after sunset.

Mars Scorpius → Libra

With opposition occurring on 22 May, the red planet is up all night.

Jupiter Leo

This large bright planet is well-placed for observing by the time the sky turns dark. It sets after midnight.

Saturn Ophiuchus

With opposition early next month, Saturn is aloft most of the night.

Uranus Pisces

This faint ice giant may still be too close to the Sun to be seen in the morning sky this month.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system. Neptune rises in the early morning hours.