Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.
May 4:
- 🎤 DAS General Meeting – Give Peas a Chance: How Citizen Scientists Helped Solve the Photon Crisis with Dr. Donal O’Sullivan: Free, in-person event at Secular Hub: 7:00 PM
- 🌖 The waning gibbous Flower Moon reaches apogee, it’s farthest point in its orbit from the earth at 405,843 km.
May 5 (Cinco de Mayo):
- 🇲🇽 ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo de parte de la Denver Astronomical Society!
May 6:
- 👀 Look for the waning gibbous Flower Moon in the Tea Pot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius low in the eastern sky around 2:00 AM.
- 🖥️ DAS Astrophotography Special Interest Group (ASIG) – General & Beginner Meeting: Free, virtual, member’s only meeting via Zoom (check membership email and slack for details): 7:00 PM
- 👀 Check out the Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaking from its radiant in the constellation Aquarius in the eastern sky a few hours before dawn.
May 7:
- 🖥️ Standley Lake Stargazing: Weekly Livestream: Free Online program via Zoom: 6:00PM
May 8:
- 🔭 Loveland Astronomy Night with NoCo Astronomical Society: Free, in-person event at Sylvan Dale Ranch (registration required): 8:30 PM
May 9:
- 🔭 Colorado Springs Astronomical Society Star Party: Free, in-person event at Mueller State Park Visitor Center: 8:30 PM
- 🔭 Westliffe Public Star Party: Stargaze with Boötes, Virgo, and Hercules!: Free, in-person event at Smokey Jack Observatory: 9:15PM
- 🔭 Northern Colorado Astronomical Society Star Party: Free, in-person event at Jackson Lake State Park (park fee not included): 8:30 PM
- 🌗 Third quarter Flower Moon: 3:10 PM
May 10 (Mother’s Day):
- 👩🍼 Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at the Denver Astronomical Society!
This Week’s Solar System Summary:
- The Sun shifts from rising about 6:01 AM to 5:55 AM, while sunset moves from 7:55 PM to 8:01 PM, continuing the steady increase in daylight.
- The Moon rises in the late evening at the start of the week and shifts into the overnight and early morning hours by the weekend, while moonset moves from the late morning into the afternoon.
- Venus shines brightly in the western sky after sunset and sets between 10:20 PM and 10:35 PM.
- Jupiter remains visible in the evening but continues to set earlier, moving from about 1:15 AM to 1:00 AM.
- Mercury, Mars, and Saturn remain close to the Sun and are difficult to observe, though experienced observers may catch brief views very low in the eastern sky before sunrise.
- Uranus sets between 9:45 PM and 9:30 PM and can still be observed with a telescope under dark skies, though it is becoming less favorably placed.
- Neptune rises shortly before sunrise and sets in the late afternoon, remaining a challenging target requiring excellent conditions.
This Week’s Meteoric Activity:
You can keep track of the activity of meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal.
- Anthelion (ANT): 1:00 AM in Libra near ι Librae: About 2 per hour
- η Aquariids (ETA): 3:00–5:00 AM in Aquarius near α Aquarii (Sadalmelik): 10–20 per hour (peak early on 5/6)
- h Virginids (HVI): 1:00 AM in Virgo near α Virginis (Spica): Less than 1 per hour
- α Virginids (AVB): 1:00 AM in northern Virgo near ζ Virginis (Heze): Less than 1 per hour (ending activity)
- ζ Cygnids (ZCY): 4:00–5:00 AM in Cygnus near γ Cygni (Sadr): Less than 1 per hour (ending activity)
- April ρ Cygnids (ARC): 4:00–5:00 AM in northeastern Cygnus near ρ Cygni: Less than 1 per hour
- η-Lyrids (ELY): 3:00–4:00 AM in Lyra near α Lyrae (Vega): Less than 1 per hour
Check Out These Helpful Guides from DAS:
- Where to Explore the 2026 Denver Night Skies
- When to Explore the 2026 Denver Night Skies
- What to Explore in the 2026 Denver Night Skies
Sky Map
- A pdf map of the night sky can be found at https://www.skymaps.com/skymaps
