When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.The May new moon arrives this weekend, ushering in several dark moonless nights perfect for exploring the majesty of our Milky Way, glimmering spring constellations and the ever-shifting procession of the planets.May’s new moon phase occurs at 4:01 p.m. EDT (2001 GMT) on May 16, as the moon passes close to the sun in the daytime sky.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe nights surrounding the new moon present beautifully dark skies for stargazers looking to navigate the sea of stars, nebulas and galaxies that haunt the post-sunset realm.Visible planetsTurn your gaze west at sunset to spot Venus glowing as a bright “evening star” a little over 20 degrees above the horizon — roughly the width of two clenched fists held at arm’s length against the night sky.Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211Review photo of the Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211Look no further for quality optics at a great price, the Nikon Aculon A211 binoculars offer BaK-4 prisms, 50mm objective lenses and 10x magnification. It’s hard to find such a top-quality pair of binoculars that are also affordable. Read our Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211 binoculars reviewAdvertisementAdvertisementJupiter glows another 20 degrees to the upper left of Venus, with Castor and Pollux, the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, shining above. A pair of 10X50 binoculars will reveal a shoal of star-like objects surrounding the gas giant. These are Jupiter’s largest natural satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, which are collectively known as the Galilean Moons in honor of their discoverer, the famed Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei.Early birds are treated to an entirely different cast of planets as Saturn shines above the eastern horizon in the hour preceding dawn, with Mars rising to its lower left, chased by the golden light of the coming sun. Both Saturn and Mars will cling less than 20 degrees above the horizon at sunrise, so be sure to find a spot with a clear view to the east if you want to catch the planetary duo before they’re lost in the glare of the sun.Stars and constellationsMay’s new moon is a great time to spot a trio of celestial animals shining in the spring sky. Our first target is the great lion represented in the constellation Leo, whose mane and chest are represented by a sickle-like formation of stars that shines above the southwestern horizon after sunset in May, with Regulus at its lowest point.The second-century Greek philosopher Ptolemy catalogued the constellation almost 2,000 years ago, seeing in it the Nemean Lion from the mythological tale of Heracles, which the hero was burdened with slaying as the first of his 12 labors.Starchart showing the locations of the constellations Lynx, Leo and Leo Minor in the spring night sky. | Credit: Created by Anthony Wood in Canva.Next, look 10 degrees above Leo’s sickle head to find the faint stars of the constellation Leo Minor, the “little lion”. This constellation was created by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the year 1690. As a result, there are no great mythological tales of its origin, though it remains a pretty feature between the greater stellar citadels of Leo and Ursa Major.AdvertisementAdvertisementTo the lower right of Leo Minor is the magnitude +3.25 star Alpha Lyncis, which forms the leftmost point of the constellation Lynx — a serpentine formation o …
