Eye on the Sky: Saturn on show this month

With the last month of autumn upon us, we catch a last glimpse of the constellation Orion as it continues to head westward setting with the sun by month's end.

The mighty planet Jupiter joins it an hour or so later, setting in the twilight by the end of May.

Four planets rule the evening sky this month. Jupiter in the west, stormy red Mars rides high after sunset and is still quite bright after having passed its closest approach to Earth the month before.

Even though its disk isn't quite as large as it was last month it is still a wonderful sight through a small telescope.

The real star this month has to be Saturn. Watch out for the occultation of Saturn by the moon on May 14. The moon will pass in front of Saturn and the ringed planet will disappear behind the moon about 11.53pm and reappear half an hour later at about 12.35am.

The entire spectacle can easily be observed by the unaided eye, or , through binoculars. Observers using a small telescope will be able to see Saturn and its rings setting on the limb of the moon.

On May 10 Saturn reaches opposition with the sun, so it will rise at the same time as the sun sets and will be at its brightest for the rest of the year.

Venus still reigns supreme in the early morning sky and will remain the morning star for a few months yet.

For more information contact the Rotorua Astronomical Society or the Bay of Plenty Sidewalk astronomers. Both are on Facebook.