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.
Monday:
May starts one of the best months to view Venus with a striking arrangement in the west and northwest as the twilight ebbs by 9 o’clock. Just to Venus’s upper right shines the star Elnath, the tip of Taurus’s right horn, with the brilliant Capella much farther to the upper right. Completing this line to the lower left is Orion’s shoulder star, Betelgeuse.
Tuesday:
A flashing beacon might catch your attention this evening, if you have a low, level view to the southwest. A bright point of light will appear to flash green and white and red and blue, in no order or rhythm. It is not a UFO, but the last views of the night’s brightest star, Sirius, or the Dog Star, getting ready to set. It returns to the skies toward the end of the year.