Today:
The steely blue star rising in the north-northeast, low but due northeast at 10:00 PM, is Vega, from the German “Wega”, and from the Arabic “Al Wika”, the “swooping or diving eagle”. In modern times it is the brightest star in Lyra, the Lyre, a harp-like instrument, home to the meteor showers over the next few nights.
Saturday:
Barely past new, the barest of a crescent Moon will follow the setting sun toward the horizon in the west-northwest. Appearing shortly after, barely above to the Moon’s left, will Venus, and above Venus will be the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters. Although they are faint, and not easy to see in the fading twilight or with the Moon nearby, the Moon is so thin it makes for a delightful sight this evening.
Sunday:
In the west at around 8:30 PM. the waxing Crescent Moon becomes brighter in the fading twilight. The emerging Jupiter appears high in the west-southwest. Almost straight to the Moon’s left in the bright star Aldebaran, and to its left Betelgeuse, in Orion. Above and to the Moon’s right appears the bright star Capella. And Venus, below the Moon, is dropping quickly toward the horizon in the west-northwest.