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Minnesota Starwatch for May 2024

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Minnesota Starwatch for May 2024


In May the evening sky ushers out the bright winter stars and nudges Leo, the lion — the most prominent spring constellation — toward the western exit. Nightfall comes late, but when it does it reveals the second and third brightest stars in our night sky.

High in the southeast blazes Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere of the sky. Only marginally dimmer, brilliant Vega shines lower in the northeast to east. Both stars climb throughout the month, along with their constellations. At 37 light-years distant, Arcturus anchors kite-shaped Bootes, the herdsman, while Vega, at 25 light-years, dominates the small constellation Lyra, the lyre.

In the second half of May, Spica — the only bright star in Virgo, the maiden — will be almost due south at nightfall, below and slightly west of Arcturus. Spica contains two stars, both larger than the sun, separated by just 11 million miles, or 12% of Earth’s distance from the sun. These stars orbit their common center of mass in just four days. It’s thought that their intense mutual gravity deforms both stars into an egg-like shape.

The moon begins the month in the morning sky. Just before dawn on May 3, it appears close above the eastern horizon, to the right of Saturn. After beginning a new cycle on May 7, it visits the Gemini twin stars on May 12; Regulus, in Leo, on May 15; and Spica on May 19. The night of May 22 to May 23, May’s full moon traces a low arc across the sky.

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The waning moon appears in the middle of the Teapot of Sagittarius in the predawn hours of May 26. On May 31 it shines below Saturn, which is rapidly moving up and westward through the morning sky. Far to the lower left of the ringed planet, a barely visible Mars is slowly climbing as Earth gains on it in the orbital race.

Minnesota Starwatch is a service of the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, located in the Tate Laboratory of Physics and Astronomy in Minneapolis.





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Gophers commit Tori Oehrlein continues to dominate, setting MN prep record

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Gophers commit Tori Oehrlein continues to dominate, setting MN prep record


Crosby-Ironton four-star guard Tori Oehrlein verbally committed to the Gophers in November and it looks like they will have a future star when she arrives on campus in 2026. She has absolutely dominated to begin her junior campaign.

Oehrlein has been putting up unbelievable numbers all season, averaging 29.8 points, 16.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 7.3 steals per game — and her performance on Tuesday night might’ve been her most impressive.

The 5-foot-11 guard broke the Minnesota high school girls basketball state record with 21 assists in a 113-33 victory over Hinckley-Finlayson. She ended Tuesday night’s game with a ridiculous box score of 30 points, 21 assists, 12 rebounds and 12 steals, marking her third quadruple-double of the season.

Oehrlein is only a junior this year, so head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and the Gophers will have to wait more than a year until she’s able to play for Minnesota. Crosby-Ironton is a perfect 14-0 this season and Oehrlein looks like one of the best players in the state regardless of class.

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According to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Oehrlein ranks No. 43 nationally in the class of 2026. The only high schooler in Minnesota who ranks high in 2026 is Kentucky commit Maddyn Greenway, who ranks 18th nationally.

Greenway, the daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, is averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 4.8 steals per game at Providence Academy.

Another high school phenom who has been offered by the Gophers is Duluth Marshall ninth-grader Chloe Johnson. The class of 2028 recruit is averaging 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game for the Hilltoppers.

Stay up to date on all things Gophers by bookmarking Minnesota Gophers On SI, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, and signing up to receive our free Gophers newsletter, which will enter you into a drawing for the EA College Gameday 25 video game (you choose between PS5 or Xbox).



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Minnesota plays Memphis, looks for 4th straight win

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Minnesota plays Memphis, looks for 4th straight win


Associated Press

Memphis Grizzlies (24-14, third in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-17, seventh in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

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BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota heads into a matchup with Memphis as winners of three games in a row.

The Timberwolves are 16-10 in conference matchups. Minnesota is third in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up just 107.2 points while holding opponents to 45.4% shooting.

The Grizzlies are 11-11 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis ranks second in the league scoring 56.9 points per game in the paint led by Jaren Jackson Jr. averaging 12.1.

The Timberwolves average 15.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Timberwolves give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Timberwolves.

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Jackson is scoring 22.6 points per game with 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Grizzlies.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 107.5 points, 46.0 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points per game.

Grizzlies: 5-5, averaging 122.8 points, 49.5 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham: out (ankle).

Grizzlies: Cam Spencer: day to day (thumb), Marcus Smart: out (finger), Vince Williams Jr.: out (ankle), GG Jackson II: out (foot ).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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How to get tickets for Minnesota Vikings vs. LA Rams NFC Wild Card playoff game

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How to get tickets for Minnesota Vikings vs. LA Rams NFC Wild Card playoff game


The final game of the NFL’s Wild Card weekend is set to take the Minnesota Vikings to LA to face the NFC West champion Rams Monday night at SoFi Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET, and tickets are still available to catch the action live.

How to get Vikings vs. Rams NFC Wild Card tickets: Seats are available for the NFC Wild Card matchup between the Vikings and Rams on secondary sites Vivid Seats, StubHub, SeatGeek and Viagogo.

As of Jan. 9, the starting prices were as follows:

  • Vivid Seats starting at $87
  • StubHub starting at $92
  • SeatGeek starting at $92
  • Viagogo starting at $91

#5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at #4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

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When: Monday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)

Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.

The Vikings had a shot to win the NFC’s top seed in Week 18, but fell short against the Detroit Lions, losing the NFC North Division and slipping to the No. 5 spot instead for a road matchup on Wild Card weekend. They are listed as 1-point favorites against the Rams after finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record and nine straight wins prior to last weekend’s 31-9 loss in Detroit. Though all the ingredients are in place for the Vikings to make a run, just three of their 14 victories this season came against playoff teams and one of their three losses came to the Rams (30-20) back in Week 8.

  • Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams NFC Wild Card tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek | Viagogo

The Rams found their way through an injury-marred start to the season and closed it out strong with five straight wins before resting starters in a Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks (30-25). The highlight of that stretch and their season as a whole was a 44-42 shootout win over the Buffalo Bills that was fueled by two Kyren Williams touchdown runs and a big day from the receiving duo of Puka Nacua (12-162-1) and Cooper Kupp (5-92-1). The same combination of playmakers around quarterback Matthew Stafford are central to LA’s path to victory against Minnesota.



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