Today:
In the western sky at sunset, the Moon’s position has shifted noticeably left of last night’s companion, the star Regulus. Meanwhile, Regulus is in nearly the same position relative to Mars, with Mars still in the west. But as Leo, the Lion’s brightest star slowly drifts toward the horizon, Mars edges closer to Regulus, heading for a close encounter by the middle of the month.
Tuesday:
New on the scene this month is an old favorite, the Summer Triangle. Near 10 o’clock, the brightest star of this trio, Vega, is in the east, about two thirds of the way up from the horizon. Deneb is much lower and in the northeast, to Vega’s left. The third member is rising in the east, known as Altair. They will grace the evening skies through the rest of the year.
Wednesday:
June finds the Milky Way just beginning to return to the skies in the east, surrounded by the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle. The Milky Way will climb a little higher each evening,, allowing the skies to feature increasingly better views of the faint wisps of star clouds that form our view of the Milky Way. It remains visible in the evening skies through the winter.