Pointing South
The Southern Cross creeps above the horizon for skywatchers in the far-southern United States. This small, kite-shaped pattern of stars climbs into view from Hawaii and southern Texas and Florida late in the evening.
Moon and Spica
Look for the Moon climbing into good view by about 10 or 10:30 p.m. the next couple of nights. The bright star Spica will stand to the lower right of the Moon tonight, and to the upper right tomorrow night.
More Vernal Equinox
The Moon will be full tonight, just hours after the start of spring in the northern hemisphere. It will be a “supermoon,” which means it will look a little bigger and brighter than average.
Vernal Equinox
Spring begins in the northern hemisphere tomorrow as the Sun crosses the equator from south to north, a moment known as the vernal equinox.
Moon and Regulus
Regulus, the brightest star of Leo, the lion, is just a whisker away from the Moon tonight. The bright star we see as Regulus has a tiny companion known as a white dwarf. It’s the dead core of a once-normal star.
Spring Triangle
Three bright stars form a tall triangle in the east by about 10 or 11 p.m. The brightest is yellow-orange Arcturus, the third-brightest star in the night sky. Spica is far to the right of Arcturus, with Regulus high above and to the right of Spica.
Spinning Stars
The beautiful Pleiades is high in the west as night falls at this time of year. The star cluster looks like a tiny dipper. Right now, it stands above bright orange Mars by about the width of your fist held at arm’s length.
Little Bear
Ursa Minor, the little bear, wheels high across the north every night. Some of its brightest stars form the Little Dipper. The tip of the dipper’s handle is the North Star, Polaris.
Green Flash
Earth’s atmosphere bends and splits sunlight, creating rainbows and other displays, including the rarely seen “green flash.” Under clear, clean skies it appears with the first burst of sunlight before sunrise or the last glimpse at sunset.
First-Quarter Moon
The Moon reaches first quarter tomorrow at 5:27 a.m. CDT. The Moon will line up at a right angle to Earth and the Sun, so sunlight will illuminate half of the lunar hemisphere that faces our way.