Today:
Over the next few mornings, early risers might see Comet Nishimura, just visible to the unaided eye, between 5:15 to 5:45 tomorrow morning, its tail angled up and right, away from the Sun. It is near the “sickle” of Leo, the Lion tomorrow morning, and above the Lion’s hind-quarters by the 13th.
Saturday:
As the Big Dipper rides low in the northwest, consider the Native American tale of this bear being hunted by three hunters (the three stars of the handle). When they see him and shoot, his blood falls from the sky, turning the leaves red during the fall.
Sunday:
Venus continues to brighten as it rises earlier each morning, starting at 3:40 AM, accompanied to its upper left by the waning Crescent Moon. They’ll enjoy each other’s company for a couple of hours before the twilight brightens after 5:30. This is the first in a series of monthly encounters of the Crescent Moon and Venus for early risers this fall.