Today:
Jupiter’s pairing with the waxing Gibbous Moon this evening, cresting high in the south near 7:10 PM, brings up some interesting details about Jupiter and its own moon. Jupiter hosts an astounding 95 moons by last count, most of which were named for Jupiter’s (and his Greek counterpart Zeus) lovers. While they were many, recent discoveries necessitated expanding the names to his daughters as well.
Friday:
Orion boasts a fine collection of bright stars, including the bluish-white beacon to the lower right of his three belt stars. Rigel, meaning “left foot”, is classified as a blue supergiant, estimated to be 860 light years, and emitting approximately 200 thousand times more light than the Sun.
Saturday:
With a view to the southeast at 6:30 PM, you can see the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog, facing upward toward Orion. Well above and left of Orion will appear the Waxing Gibbous Moon making its way from Jupiter a few nights ago, to a rendezvous with the rusty-colored Mars. While Jupiter commands a bountiful collection of 95 moons, Mars only claims two very tiny moons, in actuality a pair of captured asteroids.