Today:
Looking due south at 10:00 PM this evening, you will find the red star Antares, the brightest star in the summer constellation, Scorpius, the Scorpion. Antares is usually considered the “heart” of the Scorpion. Note the general shape of this constellation is an “S”, a clue to remembering that you can S-ee the S-corpion in the S-outh in the S-ummer.
Friday:
Once the sky starts to fully darken, at around 10:00 PM, look a little more than half-way up in the west-southwest, where the pale-orange Arcturus commands the western skies, the brightest star of summer. Toward the northeast from there, you might discern something resembling a necktie in the sky. This is also reckoned as the body of Bootes, The Herdsman.
Saturday:
As the twilight ebbs from the west from 9:30 to 10 o’clock, the First Quarter Moon appears stunningly close to the star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. The Moon’s orbital motion takes it right in front of Spica as it is about to set near 11:15, lowering into the west. This event is called an occultation, a fascinating opportunity to watch the star “disappear”.