Today:
On this date in 1910, the Earth passed through the tail of Halley’s Comet, an event that spawned any number of reactions, from taking “Comet Pills” to ward off the noxious vapors, to predictions of the end of the world. The dangers were greatly exaggerated, with no measurable effects.
Tuesday:
At 11 o’clock this evening, climbing into the east and northeast, a preview of coming summer attractions has returned to the skies. Bright, almost half way up in the skies, is Vega, while just rising in the east-northeast shines Altair. The third in this trio of stars, Deneb, is one quarter of the way above the northeast horizon.
Wednesday:
The nearly-Full Moon appears low in the southeast as the Sun sets, near its lowest position in the skies. Through the evening, it rides low over the southern horizon, joined about an hour later by the red star Antares, the “heart” the Scorpion, remaining even lower than the Moon as they slide past due south after midnight. The Moon is extremely close to Antares Thursday night.