Today:
Receiving minimal competition from the slightest of a Crescent Moon, the Scorpion emerges from the twilight around 8:45 PM, near its best viewing position of the year, with its tail curving down and left to the southern horizon, then curling back up to the stinger on the very end of its tail. Just right of due south, the star on the very end of the tail is Shaula, coming from the Arabic meaning “raised tail”.
Friday:
The dark, moonless evenings feature the brightest section of the Milky Way in south-southwest near 10:00 PM. We are viewing into the heart of our galaxy, where the density of stars is estimated to be up to one million times more dense than our skies, 25 thousand light years from the center.
Saturday:
This evening the moon will sink in the west-southwest, and will remain just above the horizon at 8:50 PM. Prior to this, the gathering dusk will reveal the so-called Evening Star, Venus, hovering slightly above the Moon, into its left. The two are overseen by a true star, the pale-orange and bright Arcturus, which appears about halfway up.