Today:
The Moon is just one day shy of Full as it rises in the company of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, the Lion. Tomorrow night the pair will emerge from the dimming twilight by 6:30 PM, and will be due east two hours later. They crest high in the south just after midnight, and will then slowly descend into the west as sunrise approaches.
Wednesday:
The Full “Snow” Moon rises about 10 minutes past sunset near 5:25 this evening, in the east-northeast, and tracks high across the skies all night long tonight. This Full Moon also goes by the name The Hunger Moon, the Trapper’s Moon, and for the Dakota Sioux, the Tree Popping Moon, as extremely cold nights cause moisture in the trees to expand and “pop”.
Thursday:
As Orion crests across the southern skies, his bright stars demonstrate considerably differences in color. Compare, for example, the star Betelgeuse on the upper left, appearing an orangish color, while on the lower right, Rigel shines a piercing blue. The colors indicate the star’s outer temperature, with red much cooler than the very hot blue.