In the Sky This Month

Taurus, the bull, passes high overhead this evening. Its brightest stars form a long, thin wedge, with its brightest star, orange Aldebaran, at its southeastern corner. Taurus is at its highest around 9 p.m.

Orion is in the eastern sky at nightfall. Its three-star belt points straight up from the horizon, with Orion’s other bright stars arrayed to its left and right. From top to bottom, the stars of the belt are Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak.

The planets Mars and Jupiter are in the east at first light right now. Jupiter is the brightest point of light in the sky at that hour, with fainter Mars close to the right of Jupiter tomorrow and below Jupiter the next day.

The Moon will will pass close to Regulus, the star that marks the heart of Leo, the celestial lion, tonight. And for skywatchers from Alaska and other high northern latitudes, the Moon briefly will pass in front of the star, blocking its light.

The Big Dipper hunches low in the north at nightfall, with its bowl not far above the horizon. It rotates across the sky during the night, reaching its highest point early in the morning. It is still high in the sky as night gives way to twilight.

Cassiopeia the queen, whose brightest stars form a letter M, stands high in the north at nightfall. One of its most interesting denizens is Cassiopeia A, the remnant of an exploded star. It’s the brightest source of radio waves outside the solar system.

Earth will be closest to the Sun for the entire year tomorrow, roughly 1.5 million miles closer than the average distance of 93 million miles. That means Earth is receiving a bit more solar energy than average.

Some of the brightest stars in the night sky encircle the Moon tonight. The entire array is in great view by about three hours after sunset, and remains in view all night. The stars are so bright that they are visible even from light-polluted cities.

The Moon has a close companion tonight: Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus. Skywatchers across much of the U.S. won’t see the star for part of the evening, though, because it will be hidden behind the Moon. The best view of the vanishing act comes from the northeast.

The planet Jupiter looks like a brilliant star in the southeast at dawn, with fainter Mars to its upper right. Just below Mars is Zubenelgenubi, in Libra. Its name means “southern claw,” indicating that it once was considered a claw of the celestial scorpion.