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Weekly Stargazing Tips
Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii). Check out last week's tips or the Sky Almanac if you missed a night.
July 31, 2010
The Moon and the planet Jupiter highlight the sky late tonight. They rise in late evening, with Jupiter to the right of the Moon. Jupiter outshines all the other planets and stars in the sky at that hour, so it is hard to miss.
August 1, 2010
The planets Venus, Mars, and Saturn fade into view as the sky darkens. Venus is the brightest of the three -- it is the brilliant "evening star." Mars and Saturn form a tight pairing to Venus' upper left, with Saturn slightly higher in the sky.
August 2, 2010
A giant teapot floats low across the south this month, with a "steam" of stars rising from its spout. The teapot is formed by the brightest stars of Sagittarius, which is in the southeast at nightfall and due south around midnight.
August 3, 2010
The center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is hidden behind clouds of dust. But its location is easy to find. It is above the spout of teapot-shaped Sagittarius, which scoots low across the south on summer evenings.
August 4, 2010
Sagittarius arcs low across the south tonight. Its brightest stars form the shape of a teapot. The subtle glow of the Milky Way rises from the spout like steam. The center of the galaxy is immersed in that steam, about 27,000 light-years away.
August 5, 2010
The second-brightest star of Sagittarius, which is low in the south on summer nights, is Nunki. Its name may be the oldest star name that is still in use. Nunki is at the top left corner of the "teapot" formed by Sagittarius' brightest stars.
August 6, 2010
The brightest member of the trio is Venus, the "evening star." Saturn stands just a little above Venus, with Mars a little farther to Venus' upper left.
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