Today:
In the east-northeast at around 10 PM, the breast of Leo the Lion, marked by its brightest star Regulus, appears to push before it the rising Gibbous Moon. It’s interesting to note that the Sun passes Regulus in late August. Connecting that to this evening, the Moon follows the Sun’s August path, which means it rides very high in the south, cresting two-thirds of the way up in the south, during the morning twilight, at around 7 o’clock.
Wednesday:
Mercury remains near its best morning view position for the year, low in the southeast, about one hand-width above a level horizon at 6 o’clock, rising to almost two hand-widths by 6:30, as the Sun’s growing twilight overwhelms our swiftest planet. In most years, its 88 day orbit gives us three morning and three evening displays, though often it appears much lower than its current apparition.
Thursday:
Tonight’s half Moon, or Last Quarter, rises in the east at midnight, pushed just ahead of the constellation Virgo. The Moon will ride across the southern sky during the predawn hours. Through mid-morning, it will remain visible in the west-southwest, before setting in the west at around noon tomorrow.