Rio Rancho Astronomical Society, Inc.

On the evenings of May 18–20, don’t miss a beautiful celestial meetup 🌙✨⁠
⁠
A thin crescent Moon will pass by the two brightest planets — Venus and Jupiter — low above the western horizon shortly after sunset. All three will be easy to spot, even from the city. And as a bonus, Castor and Pollux will shine nearby, making the view even prettier ⭐️⁠
⁠
Just keep in mind: the Moon just passed its new phase, so it won’t stay visible for long after sunset. To find the best viewing time for your location, use the Star Walk 2 app 📲⁠
⁠

On this day in 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched for the first time on STS-1. On board were astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen.