Today:
Just as full darkness settles in by 10 o’clock, look due north and half way up in the sky to find Polaris, the North Star. Now look above it, and slightly to the left,where a pair of medium bright stars represent “north stars” from a bygone era. The brighter of the two is Kochab, the lesser Pherkad, together called the “guardians of the Pole Star
Wednesday:
Though named for a famous hero, the constellation Hercules is a challenge. A clear evening this month will find its “keystone” or “bow-tie” shape directly between the bright star Vega, two thirds of the way up in the sky in the east near midnight, and brilliant orange-white Arcturus, high in the southwestern sky.
Thursday:
June finds the Milky Way just beginning to return to the skies in the east. The skies will be all the more dark in light of tonight’s new moon, and will feature a better view of the faint wisps of star clouds that form our view of the Milky Way. The Milky Way will climb a little higher each evening, and remains in the evening skies through the winter.