Today:
In this evening’s twilight, look to the west-southwest, and you’ll see a tall and nearly isosceles triangle. First dangling low on the horizon, and nearly due west, is Mars. Farther toward the southwest shines the bluish/white star Spica. Much higher in the west, and rounding out this alternative summer triangle, is Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere.
Friday:
The dark skies near the New Moon reveal the splendors of the Milky Way arched over the top of the sky. Directly overhead, notice there are lighter and darker patches of light within the star fields of the Milky Way. The stars are evenly distributed, but vast regions of dust and gas block some of their light, causing the differences.
Saturday:
Receiving no competition from tonight’s New Moon, the Scorpion emerges from the twilight near 9:00 PM, near its best position of the year, with its tail curving down and left to the southern horizon, then curling back up to the stinger on the very end of its tail. Just right of due south, the star on the very end of the tail is Shaula, coming from the Arabic meaning “raised tail”.