Today:
In the northern sky at dusk, Ursa Major, the Big Dipper contained within it, is nosing toward the horizon, but only to skirt it, before rising into the northeast after midnight. This and its companion, the Little Bear, also known as the Little Dipper, are all revolving around the tip of the Little Dipper’s handle, the star Polaris, also known as the North Star.
Wednesday:
At around 8:00 PM, the evening twilight will fade, showing Saturn to have risen in the east-southeast. Saturn will ride across the southern sky throughout the night, among the faint stars of Pisces and Aquarius, but a little closer to Pisces. Saturn’s orbit of 29 and a half years means it changes very little over several months relative to the stars, remaining in the faint stars of Aquarius from January 2023 through the end of this winter.
Thursday:
Tomorrow morning, starting near 4:45, but best viewed from 5:15 to 5:45 AM, Leo the Lion will be rising in the east-northeast. Venus and the Crescent Moon will be closely clustered around the lion’s breastbone and brightest star, Regulus. The Moon will only reveal 5 percent of its surface, while Venus appears just to the Moon’s lower right, and Regulus shines 100 times fainter than Venus, to its lower right.