Minnesota Starwatch

University of Minnesota

Department of Astronomy

Minnesota Starwatch for May 2004
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Starwatch Newsletter

Minnesota Starwatch is a newsletter describing the night sky in the Midwest.

It is updated monthly, and is produced by the
Department of Astronomy, University of Minnesota
116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Minnesota Starwatch for May 2004

Minnesota Starwatch for May 2004

Venus, Mars, and Saturn will be spectacular in the western sky at sunset during May. Jupiter is not far behind; just look up and to the South.

With binoculars, you should easily see comet Q4 NEAT during the middle of the month. This comet is moving fast from South to North during May and will appear about halfway between Saturn and Jupiter on the 14th. The comet’s tail should stretch towards Jupiter, making the comet appear as though it is racing towards Saturn.

Earlier this month, comet T7 LINEAR may be visible at sunrise in the East. Comets are rather loose conglomerations of ice and dirt about the size of several city blocks. As they near the heat of the sun the ice vaporizes, releasing gas, dust, and dirt. This material creates the long tail that so characterizes comets.

Friday night telescope viewing at the U's Astronomy Department begins at 9pm. Please call (612) 626-0034 for more information.

For fun Astronomy Outreach programs check out our Public Outreach link, or if you're interested in how you can help build the new Minnesota Planetarium, please call 612-630-6151 or visit http://www.mplanetarium.org.

Como Planetarium is offering fun family shows about astronomy on a limited basis; please call 651-293-5398 for more info!

This has been a Minnesota Starwatch produced by the University of Minnesota Astronomy Department.