Today:
Rising in the east-southeast as twilight yields to darkness, a steely-blue star rises in the east-southeast, the brightest star in Virgo, the Virgin, Spica. One way to find it is to follow the “arc” of the Big Dipper’s handle, high in the northeast, down and right to the bright, pale orange star “Arc”-turus. Then continue to the lower right, and “spike” to Spica.
Monday:
As the last of the twilight fades after 8:30, look higher into the southeastern skies, where the celestial Lion, Leo, appears about to swallow the waxing Gibbous Moon, progressing to due south, about two thirds of the way above the horizon, at 10 o’clock. Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, just below and to the east of the Moon, is subdued by the moonlight.
Tuesday:
Today marks the anniversary of the stunning, Total Solar Eclipse that swept across the US and southeast Canada, right over northern VT and NH, last year in 2024. The weather cooperated surprisingly well, considering clouds dominate the skies on 4 out of 5 days in early April. The next total eclipse, favoring southern VT, takes place in May of 2079.