Today:
The Draconid Meteor Shower peaks this evening, although the bright, nearly Full Moon, hampers our view of this minor meteor shower, most years producing fewer than 10 per hour. Occasional bursts hundreds per hour have occurred when their parent comet, Giacobini-Zinner, swings through the inner Solar System every 6.6 years, most recently this March, perhaps enhancing their display.
Thursday:
Tonight’s waning gibbous moon is still nearly full, so its glare largely overwhelms the Pleiades, which appears along the lower left edge of the Moon. The Pleiades will probably require binoculars for all but the most eagle-eyed, in order to be visible. A little farther below the moon is the planet Uranus, which required binoculars even when not in the Moon’s glare.
Friday:
Capella, the fourth brightest star in the northern skies, appears low in the north-northeast by 8:30 PM, climbing to one quarter of the way up, in the northeast, by 9:30 PM. The Moon, now 3 days past Full, shines brightly as it rises near the same time, but Capella should find no difficulty in remaining visible despite the glow of moonlight.