Today:
Looking west early this evening, the Moon appears almost half-full, just one day shy of its First Quarter. This larger, brighter view of our silvery neighbor makes it challenging to see the faint cluster of stars just below it. Patience, and perhaps a spotting scope or binoculars should reveal the tight collection of stars called the Seven Sisters, or the Pleiades, just below our celestial neighbor.
Thursday:
High in the south this evening are two “twin” stars, the Twins of Gemini. The stars of Gemini are the location where the planet Uranus was discovered in March of 1781 by Sir William Herschel. Uranus was last in Gemini between 1950 and 1956. Its 84 year orbit will bring it back here in 2034.
Friday:
The Twins of Gemini remain the hosts of the red planet Mars this month, though you can watch Mars drift to the left or east during the last two weeks of the month. Meanwhile, the waxing Gibbous Moon, well to the right of Mars and Gemini tonight, progresses east much more quickly, encountering Mars tomorrow night, just above our rusty-orange neighboring planet.