Late spring brings warmer nights, making it more comfortable to observe the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. Skywatchers can also look for the delicate Coma Star Cluster, and spot a Blue Micromoon.

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak May 5–6 this year. It has a “soft peak,” meaning many meteors are visible several days before and after, so the weekend before may be a convenient time to watch. Under clear, dark skies, you may spot a dozen or more meteors an hour. The waning gibbous Moon will be up from late evening into the morning, reducing visibility, so plan to look east as the Moon sets in the west. These bright streaks occur when Earth passes through dust left by Halley’s Comet. While we have to wait until 2061 for the famous comet to return once more, we are treated to this beautiful cosmic postcard every year.

While you’re up meteor watching, try to find a delightful naked-eye Coma Star Cluster (aka Melotte 111) in the constellation Coma Berenices. It appears after sunset in the east and remains visible most of the night throughout May. Look in the area of the sky roughly framed between the constellations of Leo, Boötes, and Ursa Major. Its sparkling stars are also called “Berenice’s Hair,” honoring Egyptian Queen Berenices II. Binoculars reveal even more stars in this large young cluster.

May also marks the Psyche spacecraft’s closest approach to Mars. During this flyby, Psyche will shut off its thrusters and use Mars’s gravity to increase speed and redirect its path. NASA compares the maneuver to throwing a ball at a moving train: it bounces away faster and in a new direction. Following the gravity assist, Psyche will start a 29-month cruise to the asteroid Psyche, where it will arrive in 2029 to study the metal-rich asteroid and the origin of planetary formation.

The end of the month will bring a Blue Micromoon on May 31. It’s “blue” because it’s the second full moon in May and “micro” because it’s at its farthest point from Earth, making it appear nearly 12% smaller than a supermoon. The Artemis II crew just flew around the Moon, and Psyche spacecraft is passing Mars. When do you think humans will fly by Mars?