The sky, July 28-Aug. 3: Titan’s shadow crosses Saturn early on Aug. 3

The sky, July 28-Aug. 3: Titan’s shadow crosses Saturn early on Aug. 3

Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 28, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, JULY 27 ■ Use the low crescent Moon to guide you to Mars and Denebola in the fading twilight this evening, as shown below. At dusk across four days, the waxing crescent Moon moves from lower right of Mars to much closer lower right of […]

The sky, June 30-July 6: Near Antares, 3 double stars and M4, the cluster

The sky, June 30-July 6: Near Antares, 3 double stars and M4, the cluster

Special to CosmicTribune.com, June 30, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, JUNE 30 ■ After nightfall, look due south for orange Antares nearly on the meridian. Around and upper right of Antares are the other, whiter stars forming the distinctive pattern of upper Scorpius. The rest of the Scorpion runs down from Antares toward the horizon, […]

The sky, June 16-22: Shortest night on June 20

The sky, June 16-22: Shortest night on June 20

Special to CosmicTribune.com, June 16, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, JUNE 16 ■ Mars and Regulus shine closest together in the west this evening, as shown below. Tonight they’re 0.8° apart (for the Americas), about the width of a pencil held at arm’s length. This is a great time to compare their contrasting colors in […]

The sky, June 8-15: Full ‘honey moon’ low in the sky

The sky, June 8-15: Full ‘honey moon’ low in the sky

Special to CosmicTribune.com, June 9, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, JUNE 8 ■ The nearly full Moon (it’ll be full on Tuesday night the 10th) shines well to the upper right of Antares this evening, as shown below. MONDAY, JUNE 9 ■ Bright Arcturus, magnitude 0, shines pale yellow-orange very high overhead toward the south […]

The sky, May 19-25: Saturn, Venus rising at dawn’s light

The sky, May 19-25: Saturn, Venus rising at dawn’s light

Special to CosmicTribune.com, May 19, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, MAY 19 ■ The brightest asteroid, 4 Vesta, is nicely placed in a moonless dark sky in late evening. It’s about two weeks past opposition and still about magnitude 6.0. It’s located 24° below Arcturus, near the Virgo-Libra border, and about 9° and 10° above Beta and […]

The sky, May 11-18: The rise of Vega

The sky, May 11-18: The rise of Vega

Special to CosmicTribune.com, May 11, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, MAY 11 ■ What is the oldest thing you have ever seen? For everyone in the world it’s at least the Sun and other objects of the solar system, age 4.6 billion years. (Virtually everything on or a little way under Earth’s surface is much younger.) Next […]

The sky, April 20-27: Arcturus is brightest star, high in the East

The sky, April 20-27: Arcturus is brightest star, high in the East

Special to CosmicTribune.com, April 20, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, APRIL 20 ■ Find Procyon high above brilliant Sirius in the southwest right after dark. Look upper left of Procyon by 15° (about a fist and a half at arm’s length) for the dim head of Hydra, the enormous Sea Serpent. His head is a […]

The sky, April 13-20: Rise of Vega, the ‘Summer Star’

The sky, April 13-20: Rise of Vega, the ‘Summer Star’

Special to CosmicTribune.com, April 14, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, APRIL 13 ■ Vega, the bright “Summer Star,” rises in the northeast these evenings. How early or late depends on your latitude and also on your longitude within your time zone. Exactly where should you watch for Vega to come up? Spot the Big Dipper […]

The sky, April 6-13: The full Moon and Spica on April 12

The sky, April 6-13: The full Moon and Spica on April 12

Special to CosmicTribune.com, April 8, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, APRIL 6 ■ The Big Dipper stands high in the northeast these evenings, tipping over to the left dumping water. Its handle plus the two stars of its bowl closest to the handle form a broad, rough arc. To the right of the arc, not […]

The sky, March 2-9: Seeing the Venus crescent

The sky, March 2-9: Seeing the Venus crescent

Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 28, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, MARCH 2 ■ February was Orion’s month to stand at his highest in the south in early evening. Now March pushes him westward and spotlights his dog, Canis Major with Sirius on his chest, standing center stage on the meridian. Sirius is not only the […]