Derekscope

• This month, look out for two bright planets ~ Jupiter and Venus in the western sky.
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• Keep watching the sky, as both will appear close together on Saturday 6th June, aligning in the same region of the sky.
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• BSL Explanation

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• The Last Quarter Moon occurs on Saturday 9th May 2026 at 22:10 / 10.10pm BST.
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• The Moon rises around midnight and is best seen in the early morning hours of Sunday 10th May.
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• At the exact Last Quarter phase (around 22:10pm on 9th May), the Moon may still be below the horizon in some parts of the UK, but you’ll easily see the half-moon shape later overnight and toward dawn.
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• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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Blue Moon

• Blue Moon – not quite, there isn’t a Blue Moon in May 2026.
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• A “Blue Moon” doesn’t actually mean the Moon turns blue, it’s a term about timing, not colour.
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• This meaning a Blue Moon is most commonly as the second full moon in a single calendar month.
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• Because full moons happen about every 29.5 days, sometimes the calendar “fits in” an extra one (Twice Full Moon in the same month) that’s what gets called a Blue Moon.
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• The next monthly Blue Moon will be in December 2028.
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• The Moon appears close to the star Regulus in the sky, and both appear “tilted” at around 22:00 / 10pm BST.
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• This conjunction happens when two celestial objects appear close together from Earth’s perspective.
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• Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo (The Lion), also called Alpha Leonis ~ it’s a blue-white main-sequence star located about 79 light-years away.
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• Moonrise / Moonset
  – Moonrise: 11:35am BST on Friday 24 April 2026.
  – Moonset: 03:20am BST next morning on Saturday 25 April 2026.
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• This means the Moon will be above the horizon late morning through the afternoon and into the evening, making it visible in the afternoon and early evening sky ~ the Moon will be high in the southern sky for observers in the United kingdom.
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• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  The phenomenon begins later in the morning after 11:30am for British Summer Time (BST) – this transient effect typically lasts for approximately four hours. 
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  –…Today: Friday 24th April 2026
  –…Start formation: 11:50 / 11:50am (become visible)
  –…Peak visibility: 13:50 / 1.50pm (fully formed as best contrast)
  –…Fade disappearing: 15:50 / 3.50pm
  –…Visible: difficult (daytime requires a telescope.)
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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• On the late-night of Wednesday 22nd April
  After 9pm dark through early dawn around 4am (BST) on Thursday 23rd are your best to catch the Lyrids Meteor Showers at its peak.

• Lyrids Meteor Shower Information
  – Beginning to ending date: 15th April to 28th May
  – Peak Date: 22nd April (9pm – 4am BST)
  – Rating: Strong
  – Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 15 per hour
  – Radiant Position: RA: 18h 08m / DEC: +32°
  – Comet: Comet Thatcher
  – Note: Normally rather activity, but fine display in 1803, 1922 & 1982.
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• Quite favourable
  The Moon will be waxing crescent to just before First Quarter, meaning it is relatively thin and not very bright, because the Moon is low in brightness, it won’t significantly wash out the sky, so you can still see Lyrid meteors clearly.
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• The Moon and Jupiter will come together in the constellation Gemini.
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• One of the four Galilean moons, Europa will go behind the planet and disappear from view.
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• On that same night, the Moon will be very close to Jupiter in the sky, and you might also see “shooting stars” from the Lyrid meteor shower.
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• Best viewing
  – Start looking between 30 minutes and 45 minutes before sunrise.
  – Just before sunrise, looking toward the eastern horizon with a very clear, unobstructed view.
  – Face East and find a low, clear horizon free of buildings or trees.
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• Binoculars help with Mercury, which will be low and faint.
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• Mercury also has a close conjunction with Saturn in the morning twilight.
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• Mercury will still be quite low and faint in bright twilight, so binoculars greatly improve chances of spotting it.
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• Mercury (magnitude: -0.6) will be brighter than Mars (magnitude: +1.2) and Saturn (magnitude: +0.9) but still low on the horizon in early morning twilight.
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