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A Pair of Bright Comets will be visible at the same time this month, perhaps to the unaided eye. Comet NEAT (C/2001 Q4) is closest to Earth on 6 May (0.321 AU) and closest to the Sun (perihelion) on 16 May. Comet LINEAR (C/2002 T7) reached perihelion last month and is closest to Earth on 19 May (0.266 AU). This is a rare celestial event not to be missed. If necessary use a good pair of binoculars for a better view of the comets.
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3
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Venus brightest at 4h UT (evening sky). Magnitude -4.5.
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3
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Moon near Spica at 11h UT (evening sky).
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4
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Full Moon at 20:33 UT. The full Moon of May is called the "Planting Moon" or "Milk Moon".
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4
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Total Eclipse of the Moon begins at 19:52 UT and ends at 21:08 UT (mid-eclipse at 20:30 UT). Event favors skywatchers in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Western Australia. During totality the Moon will take on a red-orange color (the Earth's shadow).
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5
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Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks at 16:25 UT. Active from April 21 to May 12. Very fast, bright meteors (10-20 per hour). Look in the southeast 1-2 hours before dawn. Moonlight interferes this year.
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6
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Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 5h UT (distance 359,811 km; angular size 33.2').
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6
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Moon near Antares at 13h UT (morning sky).
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11
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Last Quarter Moon at 11:04 UT.
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14
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Mercury at greatest elongation, 26° west from the Sun (morning sky) at 20h UT. Mercury (mag. +0.6) visible very low in the east about 45 minutes before sunrise.
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16
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Moon near Mercury at 21h UT (morning sky).
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19
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New Moon at 4:52 UT. Beginning of lunation 1007.
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21
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Moon very near Venus at 12h UT (25° from Sun, evening sky). Skywatchers in parts of Asia will see the Moon pass in front of Venus soon after sunset. The event will occur during daytime from Africa and Europe.
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21
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Moon at apogee (furthest from Earth) at 12h UT (distance 406,264 km; angular size 29.4').
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22
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Moon near Mars and Saturn at 19h UT (evening sky). All 3 celestial objects fit within a circle of diameter 4.9°.
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23
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Moon near Pollux at 20h UT (evening sky).
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25
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Mars 1.6° North of Saturn at 5h UT (evening sky).
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27
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First Quarter Moon at 7:57 UT.
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27
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Moon near Jupiter at 15h UT (evening sky).
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All times Universal Time (UT). (USA Eastern Summer Time = UT 4 hours)
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