The Moon will occult six bright stars in May
In May 2026, the Moon is set to occult six bright stars and constellations, creating a series of rare astronomical events visible across various continents. According to the Moscow Planetarium, these occurrences include the blocking of prominent stars such as Antares, Regulus, and Beta Tauri, with visibility spanning regions from South America and Africa to Australia. While most of these phenomena can be observed with the naked eye or binoculars, the occultation of the Pleiades on May 17 will remain invisible from Earth due to its proximity to the Sun. This month-long celestial display will conclude on May 31 with a second occultation of the star Antares.
In May 2026, the Moon will block bright stars and constellations six times. According to the Moscow Planetarium press service, these astronomical events will be observed on different continents. Ixbt.com reports.
The first event will take place on May 4: Earth's satellite will cover the star Antares. Residents of South America and southern Africa will be able to see this process.
On May 6-7, the Moon will block the star Sigma in the constellation Sagittarius, but this will be visible only in Antarctica.
On May 17, the Moon will cover the Pleiades constellation, but because of its proximity to the Sun, it will be impossible to observe it from Earth. On May 18, an occultation of the star Beta in the constellation Taurus will be seen in East African countries.
On May 23, the Moon will block the star Regulus, and this event will be visible in the Pacific Ocean area.
The monthly astronomical show will end on May 31. On that day, the full Moon will again block Antares.
Residents of South America and Australia will be able to observe this event. Astronomers say such events can be seen with the naked eye or with binoculars.
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