Jupiter and Saturn’s close double act

(mag. –1.2, dia. 5.5”, May 15) begins May at superior conjunction (ie. on the other side of the Sun) on the 5th, then slowly returns to the post-sunset western sky. Reaching greatest eastern elongation of 24° on June 4, it will remain an evening planet all the way through until late June, whereupon it will descend toward the horizon again and inferior conjunction on July 1. Mercury