May Birth Stars
In May, Scorpius begins to rise and the southern sky comes alive. All 31 days have their own star; the standouts are Rigil Kentaurus, Antares, Kochab, and Alphecca. The red first-magnitude Antares is the birth star for May 29.
Our birth stars are an independently compiled system: from the stars named by the International Astronomical Union, our editors chose the one that culminates around midnight on each date. Other sources may assign different stars, but this page follows our own mapping throughout.
Find your date's star — and add its star words to a gift in this season of fresh green.
What is the birth star of May?
May's birth stars include Rigil Kentaurus, Antares, Kochab, and Alphecca. In our calendar, each of the 31 days of May has its own star.
May birth stars (31 days)
All 31 days of May, with birth stars, star words, constellations, and magnitudes. Star words are examples. Culmination times and more detail are on each day's page.
| Date | Birth star | Star words (example) | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 |  Seginus | crook, leading | Boötesγ Boo |
| 5/2 |  Toliman | companionship, journey | Centaurusα Cen |
| 5/3 | Rigil Kentaurus | foundation, kinship | Centaurusα Cen |
| 5/4 | Izar | adornment, loveliness | Boötesε Boo |
| 5/5 |  Kochab | sentinel, vigil | Ursa Minorβ UMi |
| 5/6 |  Zubenelgenubi | counterweight, paired sight | Libraα2 Lib |
| 5/7 | Nekkar | herd-lead, driving | Boötesβ Boo |
| 5/8 | Brachium | embracing arm, holding | Libraσ Lib |
| 5/9 | Nekkar | herd-lead, driving | Boötesβ Boo |
| 5/10 | Brachium | embracing arm, holding | Libraσ Lib |
| 5/11 | Zubeneschamali | verdure, measure | Libraβ Lib |
| 5/12 | Pherkad | guard, patrol | Ursa Minorγ UMi |
| 5/13 | Alkalurops | shepherd's staff, guiding rod | Boötesμ1 Boo |
| 5/14 |  Edasich | seasoning, vigilance | Dracoι Dra |
| 5/15 |  Nusakan | double row, coronet | Corona Borealisβ CrB |
| 5/16 | Alphecca | coronation, crown | Corona Borealisα CrB |
| 5/17 | Zubenelhakrabi | pincer hold, seizing | Libraγ Lib |
| 5/18 |  Unukalhai | suppleness, subtlety | Serpensα Ser |
| 5/19 | Gudja | water spirit, scaly sheen | Serpensκ Ser |
| 5/20 | Unukalhai | suppleness, subtlety | Serpensα Ser |
| 5/21 |  Iklil | brow jewel, tiara | Scorpiusρ Sco |
| 5/22 | Fang | chamber, haven | Scorpiusπ Sco |
| 5/23 | Dschubba | focus, acuity | Scorpiusδ Sco |
| 5/24 | Acrab | tenacity, grip | Scorpiusβ Sco |
| 5/25 | Jabbah | scorpion's brow, clustered light | Scorpiusν Sco |
| 5/26 |  Yed Prior | reaching hand, grasp | Ophiuchusδ Oph |
| 5/27 | Yed Posterior | sustaining hand, reinforcement | Ophiuchusε Oph |
| 5/28 | Athebyne | treasure guard, coil | Dracoη Dra |
| 5/29 | Antares | resilience, rivalry | Scorpiusα Sco |
| 5/30 | Marfik | technique, fulcrum | Ophiuchusλ Oph |
| 5/31 | Paikauhale | roaming, walkabout | Scorpiusτ Sco |
The May night sky
Antares (the 29th) is the fiery red heart of Scorpius; its name means "rival of Mars," and its glow announces summer. Alphecca (the 16th) sits at the center of the Northern Crown like a jewel in a diadem.
Rigil Kentaurus (the 3rd), magnitude −0.01 in Centaurus, is the closest star system to the Sun — invisible from Japan, but a fine story for a birthday gift. Kochab (the 5th) once served as the pole star, thousands of years ago.
How to enjoy May birth stars
- Choose by star words: words for the green season pair well with a Mother's Day card.
- Find it at culmination: Antares hangs low in the south — seek a spot with a clear horizon at midnight.
- Pair it with the birthday color: fresh-green colors and star words for a breezy gift.
- For gifts and cards: add a nugget of star lore, like "the closest star system to the Sun."
FAQ
- What is the birth star for May?
- May's birth stars include Rigil Kentaurus, Antares, Kochab, and Alphecca. Every day of May has its own star in our calendar.
- Is Antares the birth star for May?
- Antares is one of May's signature stars — it's the birth star for May 29. But birth stars change day by day, so the star depends on the exact date.
- What kind of star is Antares?
- A red supergiant at the heart of Scorpius, whose name means "rival of Mars." It appears as a birth star at the end of May.
- Why does the birth star change every day?
- As Earth orbits the Sun, the star that crosses the meridian at midnight shifts a little westward each night.
- How do you choose the birth stars?
- Our editors independently select, from the IAU-named stars, the one culminating around midnight on each date. It is not an official standard.
Our birth stars are an original editorial system compiled from IAU-named stars (rule: the star that culminates around local midnight on each date). Star words are examples; there is no official standard. Star name data: IAU Working Group on Star Names (CC BY 4.0).Editorial policy