As we finally begin to settle into the warmer weather, this month will continue to provide all outer space lovers with exciting observation opportunities. From the Eta Aquarids meteor shower to the full Flower Moon, here are some of May’s most interesting astronomical phenomena and rocket launches.
The peak of the Eta Aquarids (sometimes spelled as “Eta Aquariids”) meteor shower will occur in the pre-dawn hours between May 4 and May 5, though it will be generally active between April 15 and 27. The comet of origin for the Eta Aquarids shower, Halley’s Comet, is widely considered to be the most famous in history due to the fact that it is the only short-period comet that has been repeatedly observed from Earth. Halley’s Comet makes its rounds to our inner solar system every 72 to 80 years, and will next be visible in mid-2061. Appearances of the comet have been recorded as early as 240 BC, with astronomer Edmond Halley first attributing those appearances to the same object in 1705. The Eta Aquarids are one of two showers created by Halley’s Comet (the other being the Orionids shower, which peaks every year in late October), and are known as the third-strongest annual meteor shower, with an average rate of 10 to 50 meteors per hour.
Next, Tianwen-2, a Chinese asteroid sample return mission, is currently aiming for a May launch date. The mission will begin by taking samples of Kamoʻoalewa, a near-Earth asteroid 40–100 metres in diameter that could be a fragment of the Moon once ejected into space after a major impact. After these samples are returned to Earth for observation, the spacecraft will set off on a new course to comet 311P/PANSTARRS after using our planet as a sort of “gravitational slingshot.” By examining the surfaces and samples from both of these astronomical bodies, researchers hope to gain more insight into the initial formation and evolution of our solar system. The primary sample phase of the mission is expected to take 2.5 years, with the spacecraft currently expected to reach 311P/PANSTARRS sometime in the mid-2030s.
Finally, the full moon of May, also known as the Flower Moon, will rise at 12:56 PM (Eastern Time) on May 12. Named for the flowers that will begin reappearing throughout the month, this moon bears many other spring-inspired names, including the Leaf Budding Moon, the Planting Moon, the Frog Moon, and the Egg Laying Moon.
Whether you are most interested in watching the earliest stage of the Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission or in observing one of the most easily visible meteor showers of the year, May is sure to contain plenty of astronomy observation opportunities for all.