Friday Ark #139 has started boarding.  It’ll be afloat all weekend to take on new passengers, so visit often for a menagerie of beastly follies.

This is a great photo and story.  The caption: “A Chinese mutt named Huani nurses her own puppy and three newborn tigers that were rejected by their mother in this photo, which was provided by Xinhua via AP.”  Very cute and very cool!  [via Cute Overload]

Planet Parade: “This week will be especially interesting for skywatchers because of a fine array of bright planets in our evening sky. In fact, four of the five bright naked-eye planets are now readily visible beginning about 45 minutes after sundown.”  See the article for details on the planets involved and guidance on when to view this celestial show.

And SpaceWeather.com also points out the spectacular alignment of Venus and the Moon that will take place this weekend.  “When the sun sets tonight (Saturday, May 19th), go outside and look west. Venus and the crescent Moon will pop out of the twilight barely 1-degree apart. It’s a spectacular pairing of the two brightest objects in the night sky. The display will be visible from brightly lit cities and even through thin clouds. Visit SpaceWeather.com for a sky map and photos.”