Today:
Early risers will be rewarded with a rich display in the early moments of dawn from 3:30 to 4:15 tomorrow. A waning Crescent Moon enjoys its monthly rendezvous with the majestic Jupiter, seen to the Moon’s lower right. Joining them will be Mars, well to the upper right, the red star Aldebaran below Jupiter, and the scintillating Capella, the star well to the left.
Wednesday:
The Dog Days of summer traditionally start today. The term goes back to Roman times, and doesn’t concern the family pet, but the celestial “dog” in the skies. The Dog Days come when the Sun is closest to the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, nick-named the “Dog Star”. We see this star in the winter as the nose of the Great Dog, companion to Orion.
Thursday:
July is the time to say good-bye to the classic constellation Leo, the Lion. The bright star on Leo’s shoulder, Regulus, is close to due west at 9:30 PM EDT as it emerges from the twilight, settling lower as the twilight fades by 10 o’clock. Leo continues to settle lower each evening, and by late in the month, drops below the horizon.