Sunday May 19, 2024

Pallas at Opposition (all night)

On Sunday, May 19, the main belt asteroid designated (2) Pallas will reach opposition, its closest approach to Earth for the year. On the nights around opposition, Pallas will shine with a peak visual magnitude of 9.1, which is within reach of a backyard telescope. The asteroid will be located above and between the bright double star Zeta Herculis, which marks the upper right corner of Hercules' keystone shaped body, and Kornephoros, which shines at Hercules' elbow. Pallas itself will spend May sliding downward (to the celestial south) between those stars. The asteroid and nearby stars will already be climbing the eastern sky after dusk and will spend the night crossing the sky together. Bright Moon Approaches Spica (overnight)

On Sunday afternoon, May 19, the pale orb of the waxing gibbous moon will
clear the trees toward the southeast by about 5:30 p.m. local time. Once the sky darkens several hours later, Virgo's brightest star Spica will be
visible to the lower right (or celestial southeast) of the very bright moon. Binoculars will better show the star against the moon's glare. As the night unfolds the moon's continuous eastward orbital motion will be apparent as it changes its distance from Spica.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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