Today:
Looking in the east as midnight approaches, the skies hosts a trio of vertically-aligned stars. To the right – or to the south – of east, you’ll find the familiar trio marking the belt of Orion. From top to bottom, the stars are named Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak. Orion is rising a little earlier each evening, and will become the northern hemisphere’s central evening constellation during the winter months.
Thursday:
If starting with a glance to the northwest around sunset, the progression of the evening will feature Ursa Major, the Big Bear, appearing to dive toward the northern horizon, and then lifting back away from the horizon after midnight. It will circle around Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. In turn, Ursa Minor will circle around the star at its tail, The North Star, otherwise known as Polaris.
Friday:
As the Crescent Moon lowers toward the horizon at sundown, it will share the moniker “Heart of the Scorpion” with the star that always holds that title, that star being the reddish giant Antares. Compared to the relatively close proximity of the Moon, Antares shines at a staggering distance of 520 light years, each light year being just short of six trillion miles.