This is not intended to be comprehensive. It is a quick guide to help you find a few things in the night sky without any equipment, just your eyes. All of these are bright and relatively easy to find when walking around the village.
The Planets This Month
Jupiter
Jupiter is still visible in the evening sky at the start of May, but it is now becoming lower in the west after sunset.
At the beginning of the month it can be seen for a couple of hours after dusk, but as the weeks go on it sets earlier and becomes more difficult to observe.
By the end of May, Jupiter is very low in the western sky at sunset and is close to disappearing into the evening twilight.
Venus
Venus remains a bright and obvious object in the evening sky and is now at its best for the year.
It is visible low in the west after sunset and remains above the horizon for several hours, making it easy to spot even before the sky becomes fully dark.
During the month, Venus climbs slightly higher and becomes more prominent in the evening twilight.
Morning Planets (East)
Several planets are visible in the early morning sky before sunrise.
Mars is still present as a faint reddish point of light low in the east.
Saturn becomes clearer and easier to see as the month progresses, rising earlier each morning and climbing higher above the horizon.
Mercury is no longer well placed and quickly disappears into the Sun’s glare after its early April appearance.
The Moon
Full Moon 1 May
May begins with a Full Moon, which rises in the east at dusk and is visible throughout the night.
This Full Moon is sometimes known as the Flower Moon, named after the abundance of spring blossoms at this time of year.
Later in the month, on 31 May, there is a second Full Moon. This is known as a Blue Moon, as it is the second Full Moon within a single calendar month.
Around mid month, the Moon becomes a thin crescent and is visible briefly either just after sunset or before sunrise.
On 3 May, the Moon appears close to Jupiter in the evening sky, providing a final good opportunity to locate the planet.
On 23–24 May, a crescent Moon appears close to Saturn in the early morning sky.
International Space Station
There are no convenient evening International Space Station passes this month.
Most visible passes occur in the early hours of the morning, often between around 2am and 5am.
While these can still be seen as a bright, steady point of light moving smoothly across the sky, they are less convenient to observe. The ISS looks like a fast moving star and does not flash like an aircraft.
For those who are up early, it is still worth checking exact timings and direction using a pass chart.
Seasonal Highlight
Short Nights and Late Darkness
May is the month when nights become noticeably shorter.
By the end of the month, it does not become fully dark until quite late in the evening, and the window for observing is much shorter than in winter.
This marks the transition toward the light summer nights, when true darkness is limited.
What Else to Look For
Boötes and Arcturus
High in the southern sky, look for the constellation Boötes. Its brightest star, Arcturus, is a warm orange colour and one of the brightest stars visible at this time of year.
A useful way to find it is to follow the curve of the Plough’s handle and “arc to Arcturus.”
The Plough Still Prominent
The Plough remains high in the sky and is still one of the easiest patterns to recognise.
It continues to act as a guide for finding other stars and constellations.
Summer Stars Beginning to Appear
Later in the evening, bright stars such as Vega begin to rise in the east, signalling the arrival of the summer constellations.
A Simple Challenge
As the evenings grow lighter, try spotting Venus in the twilight before the sky becomes fully dark.
Alternatively, follow the curve of the Plough to find Arcturus, and then continue the arc further to locate the star Spica. This is a simple way to start learning how the stars are connected across the sky.