As the week begins, stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere are in for a treat with some celestial highlights to look forward to. One of the most famous full Moons of the year is set to rise, and it will be accompanied by other interesting phenomena.
The Moon has always been an object of fascination, and on May 26th, we will witness a full "Supermoon". This is when our natural satellite appears larger and brighter than usual because its orbit brings it closer to Earth. The Supermoon will make for an excellent opportunity to observe craters, mountains and other features using binoculars or telescopes.
Another highlight this week is Spica - one of the brightest stars in our night sky. Spica can be found in the constellation of Virgo—between Mars and Jupiter—and appears as a muted orange color close to the horizon. With binoculars, we can pick out its major craters and ancient seas of lava.
For those interested in visiting planetariums or seeking more information about celestial events happening overhead, there are several resources available online such as Planetarium.com or The Sky Live which provides accurate location-specific information.
Stargazing can be an enjoyable hobby that offers us glimpses into space beyond our planet. Take advantage of these upcoming opportunities under clear skies while enjoying all that nature has to offer above us!