This month in the sky
The night sky in May 2027
In May 2027 the best-placed deep-sky targets around midnight are M5, M13 Hercules Cluster, M80. The darkest nights fall around the new moon on 6 May. Planets in the night sky: Mars (most of the night), Jupiter (evening).
Moon and darkness
| New moon | 6 May |
|---|---|
| Full moon | 20 May |
| Full darkness at 52° N | about 1.3 hours a night |
Plan faint galaxies in the week around new moon; bright nebulae and clusters also work near full moon.
Best placed around midnight
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | globular cluster | 17′ | City-friendly | 40° | 52° | Odyssey |
| M13 Hercules Cluster | globular cluster | 17′ | City-friendly | 74° | 86° | Odyssey |
| M80 | globular cluster | 9′ | City-friendly | 15° | 27° | Odyssey |
| M107 | globular cluster | 10′ | City-friendly | 25° | 37° | Odyssey |
| M102 Spindle Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 5′ | Suburban sky | 86° | 74° | mosaic or too small |
Already high in the evening
These targets culminate around 22:00 this month: ideal if you do not want to stay up late.
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | globular cluster | 16′ | City-friendly | 66° | 78° | Odyssey |
| M53 | globular cluster | 13′ | City-friendly | 56° | 68° | Odyssey |
| M51 Whirlpool Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 11′ | Suburban sky | 85° | 83° | Odyssey |
| M94 Cat's Eye Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 11′ | Suburban sky | 79° | 89° | Odyssey |
| M64 Black Eye Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 10′ | Suburban sky | 60° | 72° | Odyssey |
| M101 Pinwheel Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 29′ | Dark sky | 88° | 76° | Origin Mark II |
| M63 Sunflower Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 13′ | Dark sky | 80° | 88° | Odyssey |
Planets
Calculated for the 15th at 52° N: planets at least 10° high while it is dark.
- Mars: most of the night, up to 35° high
- Jupiter: evening, up to 31° high
Meteor showers
- Eta Aquariids, peak around 6 May
Questions and answers
- What is the best smart telescope target in May?
- M5 is among the best-placed targets around midnight, and the Odyssey frames it best.
- When are the darkest nights in May?
- Around the new moon on 6 May, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.