This evening, about 15 minutes before the Sun sets, the nearly Full “Pink” Moon rises in the east. The Moon is perfectly Full at 12:35 AM, though you won’t see any difference with your eyes. This Full Moon is known as the “Pink” Moon, named for wild pink ground phlox, native to areas farther south than here.
Thursday:
With the last of the twilight dying in the western skies by 8 o’clock, look to the southeast, where the Moon, Full last night, rises just after one of the brighter stars along its path, the steely-blue Spica, the primary star in the constellation Virgo, the Virgin. They keep each other company through the night, cresting due south near 1:00 AM EDT.
Friday:
The brilliant star in the southwest to the left of Orion’s belt is Sirius, the Dog Star. As it lowers closer to the horizon, notice that as it twinkles, it flashes many colors. Its light is bending on its way through our atmosphere, giving us pin-point glimpses of its spectrum or rainbow, one color at a time.