Today:
Late July offers a view of the W-shaped pattern of stars climbing into the northeast, about one third of the way up this evening, forming the basis of the throne for the Queen, Cassiopeia. It is tipped on its back during the summer, gradually climbing higher each evening, so that it is completely upside-down, later this fall.
Thursday:
August starts with a curious view for early risers, low in the east-northeast. From 4:30 to 4:45 AM, a thin Crescent Moon appears to the right of a pair of stars rising in the twilight, the Twins of Gemini, forming a triangle. Normally we see Gemini in the winter, but that is in the evening. Gemini begins its viewing each year in August.
Friday:
For the first time in several months, we have a planet to view in the evenings, the ringed-world, Saturn. You’ll find it rising into the east-southeast just before 10:00 PM, but climbing to a more favorable location from 11 o’clock, through the rest of the night. Saturn enjoys a close pairing with the Moon later this month.