Today:
The Half Moon will hang above horizon in the west-southwest at 8:45 PM. To its left you will find the red star Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. Antares is known as the “heart” of the Scorpion. Note the S-shape of the constellation, a clue to remembering that you can S-ee the S-corpion in the S-outh in S-ummer. Antares will have a much closer rendezvous with Moon tomorrow night.
Thursday:
The Moon is just one day past its First Quarter tonight, as it nuzzles up close to the reddish star Antares, the “heart” of the Scorpion, low in the south-southwest as twilight gives way to darkness from 8:45 PM to 9 PM. The pair will slide lower into the southwest, with the Moon setting by 11:15 PM, and Antares about 15 minutes later.
Friday:
If you’re up and around during the predawn hours tomorrow, you’ll note a bright spark of light, low in the east-northeast near 5 o’clock, the giant planet Jupiter, making its return to the skies, though relegated to the early mornings until later this fall. Well above are the twin stars of Gemini, while the star Procyon shines well right of Jupiter. Above Procyon, and right of the Twins, Mars rests with the feet of Gemini.