Today:
A large, waxing Gibbous Moon appears almost halfway up in the east-southeast as twilight gives way to the curtain of night. Looking below the Moon, you’ll find its companion for the night, the white star Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, the Lion. The Moon’s glare will make it a little more challenging to find this otherwise bright star.
Friday:
A nearly Full Moon will appear late this afternoon, and edge up to about one third of the way above the eastern horizon by 7:30 PM this evening, by which time it will be dark enough to find the Moon’s companion for a second night, the star Regulus. Regulus was below the Moon last night, and shines to its upper right this evening.
Saturday:
Tonight and tomorrow night, the west-northwest skies present this year’s best views of the challenging planet Mercury. Starting at 7:30 PM, just right of due west, Mercury’s bright spark emerges from the twilight, then reaches its best display from 7:45 to 8:00 PM. After that, it settles lower, setting by 8:45 PM.