Zubeneschamali and Zubenelgenubi skitter across the southern sky on May evenings. They are far above Antares, the bright heart of the scorpion, which climbs into view by about 10 p.m. Although they are in Libra, they represent the claws of the scorpion.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
May 24: Scorpion's Claws
May 25: Beta Scorpii
Beta Scorpii, a system of at least six stars, is at the left side of a row of stars that represents the head of Scorpius. It's low in the southeast at nightfall, above Antares, the scorpion's bright orange heart.
May 26: Moon and Spica
Spica, the brightest star of the constellation Virgo, is close to the Moon tonight. Spica is actually two stars that are locked in a tight orbit around one another. They are so close together that they are impossible to see as individual stars.
May 27: Vega
Vega, one of the brightest stars of summer nights, is low in the east-northeast at nightfall and soars high overhead later on. It is about 25 light-years away. It's a bit bigger, brighter, and heavier than the Sun, but just 10 percent the Sun's age.
May 28: Charting a Path
Cygnus, the swan, is a signpost for charting Earth's path through the galaxy. As you face Cygnus as it rises in the northeast, you're looking forward in our orbit around the Milky Way. The center of the galaxy is to the right, in Sagittarius.
May 29: First Glimpse
For most American skywatchers, the star Capella is just peeking into view in the morning twilight. It's bright, but it's quite low as the sky brightens. You need precise timing and a clear north-northeastern horizon to spot it.
May 30: Blue Moon
The Moon is full tonight. As the second full Moon of the calendar month, it's known as a Blue Moon. After major volcanic eruptions or big forest fires, the Moon can actually look blue. Such appearances are quite rare, however.