Today:
The Full “Sturgeon” Moon runs low across the southern skies. The Moon gets its name from the large fish found in the Great Lakes and other large bodies of water, which were easier to catch in August. European settlers sometimes knew this as the “Corn” Moon. Like the other summer Full Moons, this one also runs very low over the southern horizon.
Sunday:
The Big Dipper has settled into the northwest skies, about one third of the way up from the horizon at 8:45 this evening. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to “arc” westward to Arcturus, a brilliant orange-white star almost the same height, but in the west. Arcturus is the brightest star in the skies this month.
Monday:
At about 9:15 this evening, the large, waning Gibbous Moon rises in the east, joined 25 minutes later by its solar system cousin Saturn. While they slide across the southern skies, the Persied meteors are approaching their peak, They’re best seen after midnight, great timing to also see Jupiter and Venus keeping close company early tomorrow morning, Venus the much brighter of the two.