Today:
Today is Autumnal Equinox. At 2:19 PM EDT, the sun crosses the equator, introducing Autumn to those of us in the northern hemisphere. The days will continue to shorten, but at an ever decreasing rate, until we reach the Winter Solstice at 10:03 AM EST, on December 21st.
Monday:
The dark skies near the New Moon are always rewarding for the faint stars now exposed. Yet, despite their lack of luster, these lesser components are by far the most numerous. Consider that on a dark, clear night you can see up to 2000 stars, yet only 35 are as bright, or brighter, than the stars of the Big Dipper.
Tuesday:
If you look straight up at 9:45 PM this evening, within the gossamer light of the Milky Way shines the star Deneb, the least bright of the trio of stars forming the Summer Triangle. In spite of its comparative brightness, it actually reigns as a stellar powerhouse, emitting 200 thousand times more light than the Sun!