Today:
Yes, it’s Ground Hog Day, and people might be watching for his shadow. The traditions, however, extend back before any weather prognostications by some furry rodent. Ancient observers noted this date as the halfway point from the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox, the middle point of winter. To the Celts, this “cross-quarter day” was called Imbolc, sometimes translated as “lamb’s milk”.
Monday:
While the Moon is still thin, notice that the Milky Way arches from southeast, between the stars of Orion on the right, and the celestial dogs on the left, then overhead, dropping back down into the northwest. The Milky Way is much fainter, more sublte this time of year compared to the Summer, because we are looking toward its outer edges.
Tuesday:
Orion is in the south this evening, his left foot (on the right as we face him) denoted by the star Rigel, which is Arabic for “left foot”. The bright star that marks his right shoulder (on our left) is called Betelgeuse, also Arabic, though its meaning is less certain. Variations in the name suggest it means the hand, the shoulder, or the armpit.