Today:
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.
Saturday:
Low in the failing southwestern twilight between 8:45 and 9:15 PM, you will find the bright, bluish-white star Spica nearing the end of its viewing for the year. Although Spica ranks just outside the top-ten brightest stars, at 250 light years away, actually outshines the Sun by 15 thousand times!