Today:
Looking one third of the way above the west-northwest horizon near 8:00 PM EDT, a vertical string of three moderately bright stars marks the constellation Andromeda. From the middle star, look for two fainter stars to its right, and then a smudge of light. This is the Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest neighboring galaxy, 2.5 million light years away.
Tuesday:
High in the south this evening are two “twin” stars, the Twins of Gemini. The stars of Gemini are the location where the planet Uranus was discovered in March of 1781 by Sir William Herschel. Uranus was last in Gemini between 1950 and 1956. Its 84 year orbit will bring it back here in 2034.
Wednesday:
Between 7:15 and 7:45 PM this evening, as twilight dims, watch the wide Crescent Moon visit the giant planet Jupiter, about halfway up in the west-southwest to start, gradually lowering into the west this evening, though they won’t reach the west-northwest horizon until 11 o’clock. This pair enjoys a similar meeting on April 10th.