ISO 2026-W19
Week begins: Monday, May 4, 2026
Calendar
| Date | Zodiac day | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, May 4, 2026 | ♉ 15 | Finest NGC 43 / NGC 3877 · MCG 8-22-2 —  12 11.8 — Northern Spring |
| Tue, May 5, 2026 | ♉ 16 | Beltane · Spring–Summer midpoint — 11:48:44 UTC Denebola (β Leo) —  Var 2 2.1 2.1–2.2 — Tropical Spring |
| Wed, May 6, 2026 | ♉ 17 | Zavijava (β Vir) —  4 3.6 — Tropical Springβ Hya — 4 4.3 — Southern SpringFinest NGC 44 / NGC 3941 · MCG 6-26-51 — 11 11.3 — Northern SpringPhecda (γ UMa) — 2 2.4 — Northern Spring |
| Thu, May 7, 2026 | ♉ 18 | M109 — 10 9.8 — Northern Spring |
| Fri, May 8, 2026 | ♉ 19 | Finest NGC 45 / NGC 4026 · MCG 9-20-52 — 12 11.7 — Northern Spring |
| Sat, May 9, 2026 | ♉ 20 | 🌗 Last Quarter — 21:10:28 UTC Finest NGC 74 / NGC 4038 · The Antennae with 4039 / C60 / NGC 4038 · Antennae Galaxies — 11 10.9 — Tropical SpringC61 / NGC 4039 · Antennae Galaxies — 13 13.0 — Tropical SpringFinest NGC 46 / NGC 4088 · Arp 18 — 11 11.3 — Northern Spring |
| Sun, May 10, 2026 | ♉ 21 | Finest NGC 59 / NGC 4111 · MCG 7-25-26 — 12 11.7 — Northern SpringAlchiba (α Crv) — 4 4.0 — Southern Spring |
Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris
Snapshot: Week begins May 4, 2026, 00:00 UTC.
(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)
| Body | ☉︎ | ☽︎ | ☿︎ | ♀︎ | ♂︎ | ♃︎ | ♄︎ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecliptic | ♉︎ 13°33′ β −0°00′ | ♐︎ 8°41′ β −5°02′ | ♉︎ 1°42′ β −1°34′ | ♊︎ 11°55′ β +1°02′ | ♈︎ 18°40′ β −0°52′ | ♋︎ 19°20′ β +0°24′ | ♈︎ 9°29′ β −2°11′ |
| Observing |  | -11.9 | ☉︎ | -3.9 | 1.2 | -2.0 | 0.9 |
| Rise | 04:49 | 21:36 | 04:30 | 06:11 | 03:57 | 08:58 | 03:44 |
| Set | 19:11 | 05:43 | 18:02 | 21:42 | 16:55 | 00:21 | 16:04 |
Extended targets:
| Body | ⚳︎ | ♅︎ | ♆︎ | ♇︎ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecliptic | ♉︎ 19°45′ β −3°46′ | ♊︎ 0°27′ β −0°10′ | ♈︎ 3°21′ β −1°19′ | ♒︎ 5°30′ β −4°03′ |
| Observing | ☉︎ | ☉︎ | 7.8 | 14.5 |
| Rise | 05:28 | 05:40 | 03:27 | 01:27 |
| Set | 19:30 | 20:38 | 15:33 | 10:15 |
β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.
Planet Finder
Sky Notes
Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-12 05:18:41 UTC
ISO 2026-W19 runs from May 4 through May 10. Venus is about 2.1° in ecliptic longitude from Aldebaran in Taurus.
Naked eye: 🌗 Last Quarter — 21:10:28 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use Denebola, Phecda as the week’s fixed-sky framework.
Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -11.9; direct motion; 95.1% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude May 08 18:21 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -1.0; direct motion; 90.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 87.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.2; direct motion; 97.6% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: In solar glare; magnitude 8.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.0; direct motion; 99.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.9; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: In solar glare; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station May 06 15:34 UTC: turns retrograde. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude May 08 18:21 UTC.
Binoculars: Trace Virgo’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Zavijava at its charted position. Trace Hydra’s charted figure in the finder, then identify β Hya at its charted position. Trace Corvus’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Alchiba at its charted position.
Small telescope: MCG 8-22-2: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 6-26-51: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M109: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 9-20-52: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Antennae Galaxies: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Antennae Galaxies: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Arp 18: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 7-25-26: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance
Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.
Other objects listed this week: Antennae Galaxies
Mercury
Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 04:30; sets 18:02 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.0. The disk is 90.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 12.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.953° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 7.7° away. Mercury: 7.7° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.
Venus
Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 5.8° above the horizon. Rises 06:11; sets 21:42 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 87.3% illuminated (gibbous). It is 28.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.208° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 6.7° away. Venus: 6.7° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Moon
Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 5.8° below the horizon. Rises 21:36; sets 05:43 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -11.9. The disk is 95.1% illuminated (waning gibbous). It is 154.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 11.913° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Antares, 1.5° away. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude May 08 18:21 UTC. Moon: 1.5° from Antares in the Pathfinder.
Mars
Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 35.1° below the horizon. Rises 03:57; sets 16:55 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.2. The disk is 97.6% illuminated (gibbous). It is 24.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.764° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 13.7° away. Mars: 13.7° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.
Jupiter
Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 33.0° above the horizon. Rises 08:58; sets 00:21 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.0. The disk is 99.2% illuminated (nearly full). It is 65.8° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.145° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 7.6° away. Jupiter: 7.6° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.
Saturn
Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 41.9° below the horizon. Rises 03:44; sets 16:04 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.9. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 34.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.111° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 19.7° away. Saturn: 19.7° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.
Uranus
Uranus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 05:40; sets 20:38 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 16.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.056° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 11.1° away. Uranus: 11.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Neptune
Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 44.5° below the horizon. Rises 03:27; sets 15:33 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 40.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.031° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 17.7° away. Neptune: 17.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Ceres
Ceres: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 05:28; sets 19:30 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 7.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.408° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Menkar, 10.1° away. Ceres: 10.1° from Menkar in the Pathfinder.
Pluto
Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 45.9° below the horizon. Rises 01:27; sets 10:15 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 98.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.001° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.7° away. Station May 06 15:34 UTC: turns retrograde. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude May 08 18:21 UTC. Pluto: 8.7° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.
Highlights
Mercury
In solar glare; magnitude -1.0; direct motion; 90.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mercury: 7.7° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.
Venus
Naked eye; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 87.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: 6.7° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Moon
Naked eye; magnitude -11.9; direct motion; 95.1% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude May 08 18:21 UTC. Moon: 1.5° from Antares in the Pathfinder.
Mars
Naked eye; magnitude 1.2; direct motion; 97.6% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: 13.7° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.
Jupiter
Naked eye; magnitude -2.0; direct motion; 99.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: 7.6° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.
Saturn
Naked eye; magnitude 0.9; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: 19.7° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.
Uranus
In solar glare; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: 11.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Neptune
Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: 17.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Ceres
In solar glare; magnitude 8.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: 10.1° from Menkar in the Pathfinder.
Pluto
Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station May 06 15:34 UTC: turns retrograde. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude May 08 18:21 UTC. Pluto: 8.7° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.