Today:
Night owls can catch a view of the fickle Moon, as it temporarily accompanies its next stellar companion. In the southeast at around 2:50 AM, the red-orange star Antares will emerge, as part of its parent constellation Scorpius. Ten minutes later the waning Crescent Moon will rise on the heels of Antares. Much as happened with Spica a few nights ago, the Moon and Antares will traverse the southern sky, and the Moon will lose its companion in the glare of the gathering dawn.
Thursday:
As Orion crests across the southern skies, his bright stars demonstrate considerably differences in color. Compare, for example, the star Betelgeuse on the upper left, appearing an orangish color, while on the lower right, Rigel shines a piercing blue. The colors indicate the star’s outer temperature, with red much cooler than the very hot blue.
Friday:
About one quarter of the way up, at around 6:10 PM, you’ll find the bluish star Deneb squarely in the northwest. Deneb in the 14th-brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. Such a ranking is impressive considering how far away Deneb is. It’s so far away that estimates vary considerably as to it exact distance, ranging between 1,600 and 2,600 light years. Among the 16 brightest stars, the next closest is Rigel, at roughly 860 light years.