May is shaping up to be a spectacular month for stargazers. From meteor showers to visible planets, there’s a lot to see. Matt Woods from the Perth Observatory joined us to explain what’s happening above us. “Looking to the night sky is always fascinating,” Matt said. “And May is full of celestial events worth checking out.”

Milky Way Season Begins

We’ve entered Milky Way season. This means the Milky Way becomes more visible early in the night. “It’s a great time to head out to the country and take photos,” Matt shared. “You can see the emu in the sky and the center of our galaxy.”

Don’t Miss the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

One of the highlights is the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. It peaks around May 5, but you can spot meteors from late April to May 10.

“It’s caused by Earth passing through leftover crumbs from Halley’s Comet,” Matt explained. “They hit our atmosphere at about 66 kilometres per second.”

To get the best view, head out after 2:30 AM on the 5th. Look northeast toward the Aquarius constellation and stay out until sunrise if you can.

“You might see glowing trails that linger for seconds,” said Matt. “But you’ll need to escape city lights to catch the best show.”

Where to Watch

If you’re serious about seeing the meteor shower or Milky Way, try these dark-sky locations around Perth:

  • Mundaring Lookout and South Ledge Lookout
  • Heron Point and Island Point Reserve in Mandurah
  • John Forrest National Park
  • The Pinnacles, if you’re up for a drive
  • Or go further to Kalbarri, Karijini, or Cape Le Grand

“Just give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark,” Matt advised. “And keep your head on a swivel meteors can appear anywhere.”

Spot the International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) will also be visible with the naked eye several times during May.

“It appears in the southwest, gets brighter, and moves across the sky in about eight minutes,” Matt said.

It will vanish suddenly as it enters Earth’s shadow. Look out for it around 6:30 PM on May 2 and 3 it’ll be bright!

Planets on Display: Mercury and Saturn

If you’re an early riser, keep an eye on Mercury and Saturn in the pre-dawn sky.

“We’ve had a conjunction where the Moon, Venus, Mercury and Saturn were close together,” Matt noted.

These close groupings happen due to the positions of the planets around the sun. While we orbit in a year, Saturn takes 29 years which is why these events are special.

What Is the TRACERS Mission?

Another exciting event in May is the launch of NASA’s TRACERS Mission on May 11.

It will send two spacecraft into orbit to study the interaction between the Sun and Earth’s magnetic field.

“It could help us better understand how solar storms affect our planet,” Matt said. “And even how they cause auroras.”

Want to Start Stargazing?

Matt encourages anyone interested to give it a go, no fancy equipment needed.

“You don’t need a telescope to enjoy the meteor shower or see the ISS,” he said.

All you need is a dark sky, some patience, and curiosity. And May is the perfect time to start.

Final tip? Download apps like Stellarium or SkySafari to help you find constellations and track celestial events.

“There’s a whole universe above us,” Matt reminded us. “Take a moment to look up.”