Today:
Late this evening, rising in the east-northeast shines the waning Gibbous Moon, outshining the small cluster of stars following it up into the east, the Seven Sisters, or the Pleiades. The Moon’s light will interfere with actually viewing these modestly bright stars, but a pair of binoculars will help bring them into view.
Thursday:
While Venus nears the end of its evening viewing for this year, Saturn rises a bit earlier each evening in the east. It first appears near 9 o’clock, climbing to one third of the way up, toward the southeast, 2 hours later. As Saturn rises 4 minutes earlier each evening, it becomes an evening staple through the fall and winter.
Friday:
Due west at 8:40 this evening, well above the bright star Arcturus, a semi-circle of stars, with a bright one in middle, forms the constellation Corona Borealis, or the Northern Crown. The middle, somewhat brighter star goes by the name Gemma, Latin for “gem” or Alphecca, Arabic for “one in the dish”.