Today:
The growing Crescent Moon slides east from its location last evening, and appears to the right of a bright, orange-red star, Antares. Look for them to emerge from the twilight by 7:30, low in the south-southwest, and slipping lower through the evening, and setting by 9:15 in the southwest.
Thursday:
Tomorrow morning, Mercury reaches its Greatest Western Elongation, a description of its maximum separation from the Sun as seen from the Earth, rising just after 5 o’clock, with its best views from 5:30 to 6 o’clock. Mercury is moving away from us, as its orbit curves it back toward the Sun, passing behind the Sun on October 20th.
Friday:
The First Quarter Moon hangs in the south as the stars emerge from the twilight by 7:30. Looking to the left of the Moon, you’ll find the stars of the “teapot” in Sagittarius, with its triangular lid on top of the teapot, while two more stars form a handle on the left, and another star to the right can be imagined as a spout.