Today:
Low in the southwest this evening, a waxing Crescent Moon hangs low over the southwest horizon from 7:45 through 8 o’clock, while a modestly bright star appears well to its right, with the curious name Zubenelgenubi, which means “southern claw” in Arabic. Above it shines Zubeneschamali, the “northern claw”. Claws of what? The Scorpion, well to their left, and its bright red star, Antares.
Saturday:
Over the next few nights, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and Saturn, placing Saturn exactly opposite the Sun from our location, an arrangement called “opposition”. For planets, this places us as close to them as we get, and this situation allows sunlight to reflect directly off the planet, both details helping Saturn to reach its maximum brightness. It rises at sunset, and tracks across the skies all night.
Sunday:
As dawn breaks tomorrow morning, you can catch a fleeting glimpse of the planet Mercury, as it rises just slightly north of east at around 5 AM, and best viewed from 5:30 to 6 o’clock. Ever so slightly beneath and to the east of Mercury is the star Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, but will outshined by Mercury, and both soon overwhelmed by the rising sun.