ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR MAY 2026

The Moon

Full Moon occurs on 1st at h. 22-53 I.S.T.	Last Quarter occurs on 10th at h 02-40 I.S.T.
New Moon occurs on 17th at h 01- 31 I.S.T.	First Quarter occurs on 23rd at h 16-41 I.S.T.
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 18th.
The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 5th and at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 17th.

The Moon passes about 4 ½⁰ north of Neptune on 13^th, about 6⁰ north of Saturn on 14^th before sunrise, about 5 ½⁰ north of Mars on 15^th, about 4 ½⁰ north of Mercury on 17^th, about 5 ½⁰ north of Uranus on 17^th, about 3⁰ north of Venus on 19^th, about 3⁰ north of Jupiter on 20^th.

The Planets

Visibility of Planets:

Mercury: The planet is too close to the Sun to be visible upto 22^nd of the month. From 23^rd of the month the planet becomes visible in the western sky. Thereafter the planet sets about ½ hour to 1 ½ hours after sunset for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in superior conjunction with the Sun on 14^th.The planet approaches the Perihelion position on its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 18^th.

Venus: The planet sets about 2 hours to 2 ½ hours after sun set throughout the month. The planet approaches the Perihelion position on its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 15^th.

Mars: The planet rises before sunrise throughout the month. The planet rises about 1 hour to 1 ½ hours before sunrise upto third quarter of the month, about 1 ½ hours to 2 hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Jupiter: The planet sets before local midnight time throughout the month. The planet sets about 1 hour to 1 ½ hours before local midnight time upto first quarter of the month, about 1 ½ hours to 2 hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 2 ½ hour before it for the remaining days of the month.

Saturn: The planet rises after local midnight time throughout the month. The planet rises about 3 ½ hours to 3 hours after local midnight time upto first quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2 ½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 ½ hours to 2 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Uranus: The planet sets about 1 ½ hours to 1 hour after sun set upto first quarter of the month, about 1 hour to ½ hour after it upto second quarter of the month and about ½ hour to close to sunset time upto third quarter of the month and it rises close to sunset time to ½ hour before sunrise for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in conjunction with Sun on 22^nd of the month.

Neptune: The planet rises after local midnight time throughout the month. The planet rises about 3 hours to 2 ½ hours after local midnight time upto second quarter of the month, about 2 ½ hours to 2 hours after it upto third quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1 ½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planet:

Venus passes about 6 ½ ° north of Aldebaran (Rohini ) on 3^rd.

Mercury passes about 7 º north of Aldebaran (Rohini) on 22^nd.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from (Mesha) to Taurus (Vrisha) on 15th. Moves from Taurus (Vrisha) to Gemini (Mithuna) on 29th.	- 0.7 to - 1.7 - 1.7 to - 1.2
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Taurus (Vrisha) to Gemini (Mithuna) on 14th.	- 3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Moves from Pisces (Mina) to Aries (Mesha) on 11th.	+ 1.2 to + 1.3
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Gemini (Mithuna).	- 2.0 to - 1.9
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+ 0.9
Uranus	Remains in Taurus (Vrisha).	+ 6.0
Neptune	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+ 8.0

Source : : Head

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.