Today:
Arcturus, the brightest star in the evening skies, still close to due west, appears less than one quarter of the way up as twilight ends, setting earlier each evening, and heads below the west-northwest horizon at 8:00 PM EDT. Arcturus owes its brilliance to its relatively close position, about 37 light years away, while it sends out 170 times more light than our Sun.
Monday:
In the last glow of twilight, a growing Crescent Moon rides low over the southern horizon, but not alone, as the Moon nestles squarely within Sagittarius. Below and to the right, the reddish Antares can be seem briefly before it dips below the horizon. Also known as “the Heart of the Scorpion.” Antares has neared the end of its evening viewing, set to return with the warmer weather next spring.
Tuesday:
Early risers tomorrow can look high in the southeast at around 5:30 AM. Almost vertically aligned are the head of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux. Then comes the adjacent Jupiter, just below. These three bodies form an arc that points to the star Procyon, father below and to the right. Farther below and to the right, almost due south, is the brightest star in the sky, Sirius.