Sky Lights ~ Taurus

Mars pierces through the deep twilight in the west. The planet sets around 1:45am at the beginning of Taurus and by its end at 1:00am. Mars, like a bright star in Gemini, equals the brightness of Pollux and diagonally aligns with Pollux and Castor during the first week of May. Some say the three resemble Gemini triplets! See for yourself! 5/4 9pm Map May 21-23 Mars buzzes Cancer's Beehive for a rare binocular treat.

Saturn and Regulus, the blue-white heart star of Leo the Lion, pair up overhead. Saturn, outshining the star, can be observed in the deep twilight. The planet is stationary direct 5/2, when it is at its closest to Regulus, afterwards it can be seen slowly moving away to the east. Both the star and planet set at 3:45am in the beginning of Taurus and by its end at 2:30am. As predawn Saturn sets in the west, Jupiter rises in the east. 5/10 2am Sky Chart Saturn's rings are closing toward their 2009 edge-on view.

Jupiter is brilliant as it ascends above the predawn southeastern horizon, outshining any nearby stars or planets. It rises in the southeast at 1:30am in the beginning of Taurus and by its end at 12:15am. As it nears Earth and opposition 7/9/08, Jupiter grows bigger and brighter in our sky. Jupiter remains located at the eastern border of the constellation Sagittarius throughout 2008. Jupiter is stationary retrograde 5/9. 5/10 2am Sky Chart

Venus rises within 20 minutes of the Sun during Taurus and is too deep in the solar glare to be seen from the Northern Hemisphere. Venus reaches superior conjunction 6/9. Look for Venus to pop through the twilight glow of sunset during mid-July.

Mercury reappears in the evening sunset sky in late April. The planet transits Taurus first near the Pleiades then near Aldebaran 4/30-5/10. Find an unobstructed W-NW horizon and use binoculars to spot the cluster and star in the twilight glow. 5/6 Map Mercury gives its best performance for 2008 in May, reaching greatest elongation 5/13. Afterwards the planet sinks toward the horizon. Mercury grows fainter as the month of May unfolds.

Orion The Hunter is found with the winter stars sinking in the southwest at sunset. The stellar giant fully sets in the beginning of Taurus by 11:15pm and by its end at 8:45pm. Use Orion's stars to navigate this area of the sky. Winter Star Map Orion helps one find the Winter Triangle and the Great Winter Hexagon.

Capella is the very bright star in the northwest setting in the beginning of Taurus at 1:45am and by its end at 12:30am. It is the brightest star seen the most often. Spring Star Map

Sirius the brightest star in the heavens can be seen high in the south as the sky darkens. Sirius sets in the beginning of Taurus around 10:45pm and by its end at 9:30pm.

Regulus and Leo the Lion spring up overhead. Look for Saturn's pale yellow orb east of blue-white Regulus.

Arcturus, is the bright golden star, high in the east at sunset. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there spike down to blue-white Spica in the south. The westward movement of Arturus and the Big Dipper can be observed until sunrise. Big Dipper Navigation Notice the seasonal position of the Big Dipper's bowl.

Vega is the very bright star rising above the northeast horizon after sunsest.

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