Today:
If starting with a glance to the northwest around sunset, the progression of the evening will feature Ursa Major, the Big Bear, appearing to dive toward the northern horizon, and then lifting back away from the horizon after midnight. It will circle around Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. In turn, Ursa Minor will circle around the star at its tail, The North Star, otherwise known as Polaris.
Friday:
As the Crescent Moon lowers toward the horizon at sundown, it will share the moniker “Heart of the Scorpion” with the star that always holds that title, that star being the reddish giant Antares. Compared to the relatively close proximity of the Moon, Antares shines at a staggering distance of 520 light years, each light year being just short of six trillion miles.
Saturday:
Directly overhead this evening at 7:10 PM is Deneb, the tail of the Swan, or the top of the Northern Cross. Although Deneb appears as the faintest star of the Summer Triangle, it is by far the most powerful. While Vega shines 40 times brighter than our Sun, and Altair about 10 times brighter, Deneb emits an estimated 200 thousand times more light!