Mars also is slowly nearing the sun which increases the planet's brightness. Although Mars is bright, details are hard to see on the planet with a small telescope. But with patience and practice, many subtle details become visible. Venus has moved into the morning sky, rising 90 minutes before the sun. May also is when the big, bright constellations of summer swing into view.
Bootes already is high overhead.
Modern star watchers see Bootes in the shape of a kite, a broad necktie or a boot print. Ancient Egyptians saw Bootes as a hippopotamus placed in the sky to protect the pole star from the Great Bear. Greeks saw Bootes as a shepherd, and they gave the brightest star the name Bear Watcher, or Arcturus. Bootes is easy to find with the aid of the Big Dipper. Follow the arc of the dipper's handle across the sky to a bright, pale orange star.