Interesting things that Bellatrix Orionis is hoping to observe.
Visual guide from Hubble
Planets
 |
Mercury – can be found in the constellation of Pisces. It is best viewed on Tuesday 17 May at 0450BST. It’s brightness goes from magnitude +0.1 to -0.8 by the end of the month. |
 Source: Hubblesite.org |
Venus – can be found in the constellation of Pisces and is best viewed on Sunday 1 May at 0520BST. It will be a magnitude -3.8 object. |
 Source: Hubblesite.org |
Mars – Can be found in the constellation of Aries and is best placed to view on Tuesday 31 May at 0410BST. It is at magnitude +1.3 |
 Source: Hubblesite.org |
Jupiter – Can be found in the constellation of Pisces and is at magnitude -2.1 all month. It’s best placed to view on Tuesday 31 May at 0415BST. |
 Source: Hubblesite.org |
Saturn – Can be found in the constellation of Virgo and fluctuates from magnitude +0.6 at the begining of the month to +0.7 by 25 May. The planet is best placed to view on Sunday 1 May at 2300BST. |
 Source: Hubblesite.org |
Uranus – Is not visible this month. |
 Source: Hubblesite.org |
Neptune – Is not visible this month. |
Dwarf Planets
Pluto – Is a morning object and can be found in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Ceres – Is very low in the morning sky.
Eris – Can be found in the constellation Cetus, but is only visible with a CCD camera.
Makemake – Too close to the Sun to view.
Haumea – Is in the constellation of Bootes and also requires a CCD camera to enable observation.
Wednesday 3 May
New Moon
Friday 6 May
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks and is best viewed from 0330BST until dawn. The UK usually only sees a peak of approximately 10 meteors per hour.
Tuesday 10 May
Moon at first quarter.
Friday 13 May
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury can all be seen close to each other at approximately 0450BST
Sunday 15 May
If you have a large telescope or webcam/CCD why not see if you can spot comet C/2010 G2 Hill as it meanders past the pole star. Its approximate magnitude is +13.9.
Tuesday 17 May
Full Moon.
Saturday 21 May
Mercury, Mars and Venus can be found in the east-northeast sky just before dawn
Tuesday 24 May
Moon at last quarter.
Sunday 29 May
From around 0415BST you should be able to see Venus low in the east-northeast sky, with Jupiter in the east along with the cresent Moon.
