"Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."
- Arthur C. Clarke

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Mercury

May is a good month to view Mercury. It is in the evening (Western) sky (in Taurus) all month reaching maximum Eastern elongation on May 14. After May 25, the planet will be too close to the Sun to easily view.

Venus

Venus is lost to the Sun's glare until the end of July when it will re-emerge as the evening star.

Mars

Mars is in Gemini and is still fairly high in the West at Sunset as it continues to slowly fade (mag 1.3 on 5/15)

 
Sky Info for May, 2008

The image above shows the position of planets, stars, constellations and selected deep sky objects (DSO's) in mid-May (2008) at about 10:00 pm MDT from Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is also valid for late April at 11:00 pm and early June at 9:00 pm. Clicking on the map will bring up a larger printable (inverted) image. To use the chart, hold it over your head with the direction indicators pointing in the appropriate direction. Many features will be impossible to see in a location polluted by poorly-designed lighting. Most of the DSOs (indicated in blue, above) will require binoculars or a telescope.

 
Jupiter

Jupiter remains in Sagittarius and now rises close to midnight (1 am on 5/1; 11 pm on 5/31).

Saturn

Saturn his dimmed slightly since opposition, but remains a prime target for early evening viewing throughout May. Look for it about 5 degrees East of Regulus in Leo.

Uranus/Neptune

Uranus (in Aquarius) and Neptune (in Capricornus) are both visible in the East before sunrise. Neptune rises around 1 am on 5/15 with Uranus rising around 90 minutes later.