Today:
A celestial “flash mob” rises in the east-northeast late this evening. The waning Moon, nearly at its Last Quarter, starts things off as it rises near 10 o’clock. It then invites the Twins of Gemini to join it, about an hour later, which gives the Twins an idea. The reach out to the red planet Mars, and by midnight, this group climbs higher into the east-northeast.
Wednesday:
Ursa Major, better known as the Great Bear, is settling very low along the northern horizon during the evenings. The best known stars here are the Big Dipper, with the “bowl” of the Dipper part of the Bear’s body, and the “handle” his long, bushy tail. The Bear reaches his lowest point, due north, near 10 o’clock this evening.
Thursday:
From now through the weekend, Venus shares its corner of the heavens with a star making its last appearances of the year, the “heart” of the Scorpion, Antares. You’ll need a low, level view to the southwest, and maybe a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope, to scan the horizon from 6:25 to 6:35. The much fainter Antares flickers to the lower left of Venus tonight, and below Venus by Sunday night.
