Look up: Venus nears its greatest distance from sunrise. Plus, a New Moon is coming soon.

USA Today

24-05-2025

Look up: Venus nears its greatest distance from sunrise. Plus, a New Moon is coming soon.
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Astronomy events to mark on your May calendar
One of the most exciting stargazing events for the month of May include the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which will peak on May 5-6.
The next New Moon will fall at around 11:02 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27.
Manhattanhenge, a biannual event in Manhattan, New York, will occur at around 8:13 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 28.
Venus will reach its greatest distance from sunrise at midnight ET on Sunday, June 1.
May is nearing an end, but the night sky still has plenty to offer for stargazers this month.
Several visible planets, a New Moon, Venus' pull from the sunrise and Manhattanhenge will all occur within the coming week.
Throughout the remainder of May, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are visible in the early morning and evening hours. In the evening, Jupiter will be visible low, toward the western horizon each night. And in the mornings, both Venus and Saturn will be visible in the sky, shining in the east for about an hour before sunrise, according to space publication EarthSky.
But planets aren't the only things to keep an eye out for as May comes to a close. Here's a look at some stargazing highlights through June 1.
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Here's what stars, constellations are the best to spot in May
Stargazing this May? The Big Dipper and Leo the Lion will be the easiest collections of stars to spot. Here's how:
Big Dipper: Appears like a dot-to-dot kitchen ladle. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Big Dipper is visible above the horizon continuously.
Appears like a dot-to-dot kitchen ladle. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Big Dipper is visible above the horizon continuously. Leo the Lion: You can use the Big Dipper to locate Leo the Lion. Find the Big Dipper's pointer stars − located on the outer edge of the ladle. Draw an imaginary line southward to locate Leo. The constellation's most prominent feature is a backward question mark, which is Leo's head and mane.
For a map of the best places to stargaze, visit EarthSky's interactive map at earthsky.org/stargazing.
May 25: Moon and Venus share morning sky
On the morning of Sunday, May 25, about 30 minutes before sunrise, a thin, waning crescent and bright Venus will be visible near the eastern horizon, according to EarthSky.
May 27: New Moon
The next New Moon will fall at around 11:02 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27, EarthSky reports. Because the moon isn't visible during this phase, it will be one of the best nights to go stargazing, as the night sky isn't illuminated.
May 28: Manhattanhenge in New York City
Manhattanhenge, or Manhattan Soloistic, happens twice a year when the setting sun is aligned with the east-west streets of Manhattan's main grid, illuminating both the north and south sides of the borough.
The upcoming Manhattanhenge will occur at around 8:13 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 28, according to the American Museum of Natural History.
According to NYC Parks and the American Museum of Natural History, the best places to view Manhattanhenge are:
14th Street
23rd Street
34th Street
42nd Street
57th Street
Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan
Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens
The next Manhattanhenge to occur this year will be around 8:22 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12.
June 1: Venus reaches greatest distance from sunrise
Since March, Venus has been visible in the morning sky, just east of sunrise. But the planet's greatest elongation, when it will be the farthest from sunrise, is coming up on Sunday, June 1 at midnight ET. This occurs when Venus is the farthest from the sun on the sky's dome, according to EarthSky.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [e-mail].