Today:
The brilliant star in the southwest to the left of Orion’s belt is Sirius, the Dog Star. As it lowers closer to the horizon, notice that as it twinkles, it flashes many colors. Its light is bending on its way through our atmosphere, giving us pin-point glimpses of its spectrum or rainbow, one color at a time.
Friday:
Just before 11 o’clock this evening, the red star Antares will rise in the southeast, remaining low as moves toward the right. About 15 minutes later, the waning gibbous moon will follow the same trajectory. The pair will crest low in the south near 3 o’clock, lowering into the south-southwest just before dawn.
Saturday:
Facing north just after sunset, it might require an uncomfortable gaze to look nearly straight overhead, in order to see Ursa Major, “The Great Bear,” which appears to be hanging upside down. If you check back at around 2:30 AM, the bear seems to be diving toward the northwestern horizon. But by the predawn twilight, the bear looks like it’s coming in for a soft landing in the north.