May 2020 is here and with it comes lots of opportunities to Do Some Science! In addition to being Clean Air Month and National Egg Month, May is also home to Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower, the the last supermoon of the year, and Manhattanhenge. Take a look at what May brings for the science lover in you.
May 1: Space Day
May 2: Birthday of Elijah McCoy; Canadian-born African-American inventor and engineer
May 2: Astronomy Day
May 4: Bird Day
May 4: Star Wars Day
May 4-5: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
May 5: In 1809, Mary Kies becomes the first woman to receive a patent in the United States. Her patent for a new technique of weaving straw with silk and thread to make hats was signed by President James Madison
May 5: On this day in 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space.
May 6-12: National Wildflower Week
May 7: Full Flower Moon (also known as Full Corn Planting Moon and Milk Moon). This is also the last of four supermoons for the year.
May 8-17: National Public Gardens Week
May 9: International Migratory Bird Day
May 10: Mother Ocean Day
May 10: On this day in 1752, Benjamin Franklin first tested his lightning rod.
May 11: Birthday of Richard Feynman; American theoretical physicist
May 13: Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestral, patented Velcro on this day in 1955.
May 14: The first US space station, Skylab One, was launched on this day in 1973
May 15: National Endangered Species Day
May 16: Parks to Kids Day
May 17: English physician, Edward Jenner, was born on this day in 1749. He was a contributor to the development of the smallpox vaccine.
May 18: International Museum Day
May 19: World Plant a Vegetable Garden Day
May 20: Weights and Measures Day
May 22: On this day in 1906, the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur) received a patent for a “Flying Machine” with a motor
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
May 23: World Turtle Day
May 24: Birthday of Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit; physicist and inventor of the modern thermometer.
May 24: 209P/LINEAR Meteor Shower (possibly a new meteor shower)
May 26: Sally Ride Day (birthday of Sally Ride; the first American woman in space)
May 27: Rachel Carson Day
May 27-May 31: World Science Festival
May 29: Learn About Composting Day
May 29-30: Manhattanhenge
