The large constellation Virgo fills the southern sky in the late evening. Using a pair of binoculars, visit the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies.
Two smaller constellations lie above Virgo. Coma Berenices honors a queen who gave her long hair to the gods to ensure her husband’s safe return from war. M64, a spiral galaxy, can be found tangled in Berenice’s Hair.
Canes Venatici represents the hunting dogs of the gods. M51, in Canes Venatici, is known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. It is one of the most beautiful face-on spirals in the sky.
The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower returns this month. On the night of May 4th to May 5th, expect to see up to 10 meteors per hour. Look for them shooting from the east after midnight.
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