Today:
The Full “Snow” Moon seems aptly named in the heart of winter. Just five weeks after the Winter Solstice, this Moon continues to track high across the heavens, much like the Sun near August 1st. Curiously, while Full Moons are often associated with cold weather, NASA made very careful measurements, and found the reflected sunlight from the Moon actually raised the average global temperature by a modest 0.04°F.
Monday:
A fascinating, somewhat rare event happens this evening, well-timed and well-placed for viewing, if the weather cooperates. The Moon is just one day past Full as it slides in front of Leo, the Lion’s bright star, Regulus, starting near 8:50 this evening, and re-emerging between 9:50 and 10:00 PM, earliest northeast of Montpelier, and later if your location is farther west and south.
Tuesday:
A narrow window from the end of twilight to the rising of the Moon, from 6 to 7 o’clock this evening, offers a splendid view of the Milky Way arching up in the southeast, littered with the bright stars of Orion on the right, and the Twins of Gemini, the Little Dog star Procyon, and the Great Dog star Sirius on the left.