From 19 May to mid-June, stargazers are in for stunning evening night sky views: we think it’s the best stargazing all year! The planets Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury will put on a nightly show, and if you watch from evening to evening, you’ll see our Solar System’s motion in action.
The night of 19 May is delightful, with bright Venus appearing alongside a wonderful crescent Moon, and Jupiter higher above. But Mercury is nowhere to be seen…yet!
As the evenings progress, Venus will appear to get closer to Jupiter, making its closest approach on 10th June. Mercury will appear lower on the horizon in late May, climbing higher in the night sky to join Jupiter in mid to late June. Venus will appear to overtake Jupiter and climb higher into the night sky.
Enjoy this wonderful spectacle of some of the best naked-eye planets dancing across the evening sky.
When and where to look:
Start watching after sunset from 6.00pm, 19 May.
Something Interesting
The planets appear to move faster across the sky than stars because they’re much closer to us. This means that planets change their position in the sky regularly. The Moon is much closer to us than the planets, and as such, it appears to move through our sky even faster.
Get More Stargazing Tips
There’s always something interesting happening in the night sky, and country WA is the best place for you to catch all the action.