This week’s night skies feature a dramatic approach of Venus and Jupiter, visible in the west at nightfall, narrowing from 11° on May 29 to just 1.6° at conjunction on June 9. Mercury appears in the lower right but will soon fade. Vega shines brightly in the east, marking the top of the Summer Triangle, with Deneb and Altair completing the shape and the Milky Way subtly rising beneath. Highlights include a minimoon on May 30 near Antares, glimpses of variable Beta Lyrae, the Keystone of Hercules with M13, and the gradual return of the rich Milky Way stretch late at night. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-may-29-june-7/

The week’s forecast calls for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies, with warm daytime highs and cooler nights. Sunday through Tuesday will see highs between 91F and 95F, with clear nights dipping to the mid-50s. Winds remain light to moderate, shifting mostly from the south and southwest at 5 to 15 mph. Midweek, conditions become partly cloudy, with highs around 91F to 92F and lows in the mid- to upper-50s. Towards Friday and Saturday, temperatures gradually ease to highs near 87F to 90F, with occasional clouds and clear nights, maintaining breezy southwest to west-southwest winds. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Utqiagvik, Alaska, the northernmost town in the United States, is entering its annual midnight sun period. Starting May 10, after a brief 1:48 a.m. sunset and 2:57 a.m. sunrise, the sun will remain above the horizon until August 2—83 consecutive days without a true sunset. Despite the continuous daylight, temperatures remain cool, averaging 49°F in July, although rare warm spells can push into the 70s, and even summer snow is possible. After the sun finally sets in August, the town will experience extended twilight until true night returns around September 21, reflecting its dramatic Arctic daylight shifts. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/83-days-of-sunlight-alaska-town-wont-see-another-sunset-until-august/1889716

The video explains why speed on water and in the air is measured in knots. A knot represents one nautical mile per hour, about 1.15 miles per hour on land. This unit is preferred because nautical miles are based on the Earth’s latitude and longitude, making navigation easier for ships and aircraft. Using knots allows navigators to calculate distances accurately on charts and maintain coordination between sea and air travel. The practice dates back to when sailors used a rope with knots to measure speed, and it remains a standard in maritime and aviation today. https://www.accuweather.com/en/videos/why-do-we-measure-speed-on-the-water-and-in-the-air-as-knots/4b88cad3-1c26-4b25-b399-c4b4cee5f444

The week begins with sunny conditions on Sunday, reaching a high of 84°F with southwest winds at 10–15 mph, and cooling to 51°F under mostly clear skies at night with slightly stronger southern winds. Monday brings mostly sunny skies with highs of 83°F and lows near 53°F, while Tuesday sees a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 78°F. Midweek remains generally clear, with highs around 80–82°F and nighttime lows in the mid-50s. By Friday and Saturday, temperatures rise to 88–90°F, featuring partly cloudy skies and light to moderate westerly winds. https://www.kcra.com/weather

From May 22–31, evening skies highlight a first-quarter Moon transitioning to full on May 30, often accompanied by Regulus, Spica, and orange Antares. Constellations like Leo, Boötes, and Cassiopeia are visible, with Vega and Lyra rising in the east and the Summer Triangle forming by May 31. Theta Centauri becomes visible low in the southern sky for northern observers. Venus and Jupiter dominate the western twilight sky, drawing closer each night, while Mercury emerges faintly near sunset. Mars and Saturn appear low in the eastern dawn. Observers can enhance their stargazing with binoculars, star charts, or modern smart telescope technology. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-may-22-31/

Halley’s Comet, which won’t return until 2061, leaves behind debris that fuels the annual Eta Aquarids meteor shower every May. These meteors, originating from the Comet’s icy and rocky trail, peak overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday, with the best viewing just before dawn. Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere can see 10–30 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, while southern observers may see more. The meteors appear to radiate from Aquarius but can streak across any part of the sky. A bright moon may reduce visibility, but the fastest meteors leave glowing trails lasting several seconds. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/how-halleys-comet-fuels-the-eta-aquarids-lighting-up-the-sky-this-week/1887974

The upcoming week features mostly sunny, clear skies, and warm temperatures. Sunday reaches 83°F with abundant sunshine and breezy NNW winds, cooling to 58°F at night. Monday and Tuesday remain sunny, warming to 88°F and 90°F respectively, with lows around 57–58°F and lighter winds shifting from NNW to SE. Wednesday peaks at 94°F under sunny skies, then dips to 57°F overnight with a few passing clouds. Temperatures moderate Thursday through Saturday, ranging from 82–86°F by day and 53–55°F at night, with mostly clear to partly cloudy evenings and gentle S to SSW winds. https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s sky highlights include Leo descending in the west with Regulus leading, the rising of Vega and Draco in the east, and the dim Coma Berenices cluster visible on moonless nights. May 17 offers a double eclipse-emergence of Jupiter’s moons Io and Europa for eastern North America. Venus gleams in the west, joined closely by the waxing crescent Moon on May 18, while Jupiter, Pollux, and Castor form evening patterns. The Moon progresses to the first quarter by May 22. Mars and Saturn appear low at dawn, while Mercury and Uranus remain hidden, and Neptune is faint before sunrise. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-may-15-24/

Beltane, or Bealtaine, is the Gaelic May Day festival marking the start of summer, traditionally celebrated on May 1 in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It is one of the four main Gaelic seasonal festivals, alongside Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh. Historically, Beltane involved rituals to protect livestock, people, and crops, often using symbolic bonfires whose flames, smoke, and ashes were believed to have protective powers. Cattle were driven between fires, homes decorated with yellow May flowers, and offerings made to the aos sí. Modern revivals continue as cultural events and in Celtic-inspired neopagan and Wiccan traditions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane#:~:text=It is one of the,bring beauty and maintain youthfulness.