Today:
Between the brightest star in the skies this evening, Arcturus, high in the south at 10:30 PM, and the second brightest, Vega, slightly lower in the east, the faint stars of Hercules offer a challenge to view. Many people look for the bowtie pattern, one third of the way from Vega to Arcturus, marking his knees to the upper left, and his shoulders to the lower right.
Tuesday:
As the Moon reaches its New phase, permitting dark evening skies, it’s a good time to locate the famous but rather faint constellation, Hercules. Looking due east near 11:00 PM, and on a line between Arcturus high in the southeast and Vega in the east, you may find the “keystone” figure of stars that marks the ancient Greek hero.
Wednesday:
One of the summer’s brightest stars, Antares, crests due south near 12:50 AM, marking the “heart” of the Scorpion, but also leading the Milky Way back up into the eastern skies. Look to the left of Antares, where the band of faint light belonging to our galaxy, the Milky Way, has reached more than halfway up in the east, highlighted by the stars of the Summer Triangle.