Home > Ephemeris Program, Observing, The Moon > 05/17/2021 – Ephemeris – The Moon tonight

05/17/2021 – Ephemeris – The Moon tonight

May 17, 2021

This is Ephemeris for Monday, May 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 9:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:11. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 2:25 tomorrow morning.

The Moon tonight reveals a bit more territory than it did last night, and will every night until full moon. The Moon’s solar day equals a lunar month of about 29 and a half of our days. As seen in binoculars, below and left of The distinctly oval Sea of Crises, or Mare Crisium, is the Sea of Fertility, or Mare Fecunditatis. To the left of the Sea of Crises, the Sea of Tranquility (Tranquilitatis) where the Apollo 11 crew landed. Above that half of Sea of Serenity has come into daylight. Tonight the Beehive star cluster will be visible below and left of the Moon. It should be easily visible in binoculars and has a vaguely triangular shape. It was known to the ancients as Praesepe, the manger, who saw it as a glowing spot on moonless nights.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The crescent Moon and the Beehive star cluster
The crescent Moon and the Beehive star cluster, below left of center as they might be seen in binoculars tonight, May 17, 2021 at 10 pm. The Beehive is also known as Messier 44 or M 44. The star cluster is visible to the naked eye, but it stars are not resolvable, so it looks like a small glowing patch. It was known as Praesepe, the manger. The star just left of the Moon and another just left of the Beehive are Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis respectively, the North and South Donkeys. They are feeding at the manger. The donkey stars and the Beehive are in the central part of the constellation of Cancer the crab. The image was created using Stellarium.
The Moon a10 pm May 17, 2021 as seen in a low power telescope with the lunar seas labeled in English, rather than Latin. The seas are easily visible in binoculars. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

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