Moon and Saturn
The ringed planet Saturn poses to the left of the Moon tonight. It looks like a bright golden star. The Moon will move to the other side of Saturn by tomorrow evening.
Neptune at Opposition
Neptune is at its best for the year. The planet will line up opposite the Sun next week, so it rises at sunset and stays in view all night. It’s brightest for the year, too. You need binoculars or a telescope to spot it, near the western edge of Aquarius.
Moon and Jupiter
The giant planet Jupiter is easy to spot tonight. It looks like a brilliant star — brighter than any other star or planet that’s visible right now. And it stands quite close to the first-quarter Moon.
Moon and Companions
Jupiter, the biggest planet in the solar system, stands well to the left of the Moon at nightfall. It is the brightest object in the sky at that time other than the Moon. The star Antares, the heart of the scorpion, is closer to the lower left of the Moon.
Pegasus
The Great Square of Pegasus stands atop the eastern horizon a couple of hours after sunset. The square represents the body of Pegasus, the flying horse. It is turned at an angle as it rises, so it looks more like a diamond than a square.
Disappearing Acts
Two close neighbors are hiding in the sunlight right now. Mars is going first, passing behind the Sun today. Mercury will follow it tomorrow. Both will return to view next month: Mars in the dawn sky and Mercury in the evening sky.
Moon and Spica
Spica, the leading light of the constellation Virgo, stands well to the left or lower left of the Moon as evening twilight fades away. The star soon will disappear in the Sun’s glare.
First to Saturn
The sparse Aurigid meteor shower should be at its peak tonight. The shower produces only a few “shooting stars.” The Moon is new, though, so each one should shine through the darkness.
Veil Nebula
The Veil Nebula is in the constellation Cygnus, which is high in the east as darkness falls. The nebula is not far from the tip of one of the swan’s wings. It is the aftermath of a supernova. Gas from the explosion is continuing to expand into space.
Stellar Nurseries
A huge stellar nursery climbs high across the sky at this time of year. It’s near Deneb, the bright star that marks the tail of Cygnus, the swan. It includes two bright gas clouds, the North America Nebula and Pelican Nebula, separated by a dark cloud.