Today:
By 9:00 PM the constellation Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown, rises into the east-northeast, one third of the way from the lower left of Arcturus, and to the upper right of Vega, just rising in the northeast. Its middle star, alternatively named Alpheca or, more appropriately Gemma, is the jewel in the crown, and highlights the semi-circle of stars.
Monday:
Orion is now very low in the western skies, by the end of twilight, his feet along the horizon by 9:00 PM, with his belt only visible with a perfect view to the west and southwest. Orion’s stars are among the brightest in the sky because they are part of our neighborhood in the Milky Way Galaxy. Our Sun, along with many of Orion’s stars, are among millions in a minor band of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy called the Orion Spur.
Tuesday:
As the bright winter stars of Orion retire in the west, two lonely bright stars rise toward their summer prominence in the skies in the east. Looking high in the northeast to find the Big Dipper, and follow the “arc” of its handle lower and to the right, locating the star Arcturus. Then continue the line farther right, where you can “spy” the star Spica, a blue-white beauty.