![]() ![]() If you're in the latitudes of the southern US, you'll have to wait until a bit later after dark for it to appear. The farther north you are the higher it will be. ■ And Vega, the Summer Star, the other zero-magnitude equal of Arcturus and Capella, is now twinkling low in the northeast after nightfall. They stand at exactly the same height above your horizon in late twilight, depending on your latitude. The brightest star there is Capella, essentially the equal of Arcturus in brightness. The kite is 23° long, about two fist-widths at arm's length. The head of the kite, at the far left, is bent slightly upward. The kite is currently lying on its side to Arcturus's left. The Big Dipper, very high in the northeast, points its curving handle down to the lower right toward it.Īrcturus forms the pointy end of a long, narrow kite-skaped asterism formed by the brightest stars of Boötes, the Cowherd. ■ Arcturus shines brightly in the east these evenings. ![]() But on Tuesday the 25th, will Mars seem dimmer on account of the Moon being close by? On the 26th, will Pollux seem dimmer for the same reason? Mars and Pollux remain very nearly alike this week. ■ The thick waxing crescent Moon pairs with Mars in the center of Gemini this evening, as shown below. The whole thing sinks in the west through the evening. Venus shines under its Arch's right side. Farther to their lower right is the other end, formed by Menkalinan (Beta Aurigae) and then brilliant Capella. To their lower left is Procyon, the left end of the Arch. Pollux and Castor form the top of the enormous Arch of Spring. Mars, looking similar, is a third dot down below them. ■ After dark, look high in the west for Pollux and Castor lined up almost horizontally (depending on your latitude). Hydra is by far the longest constellation and is also the largest in area. Hydra's star pattern, from forehead to tail-tip, is 95° long. Hydra's tail stretches all the way to Libra, now rising low in the southeast. Also, a line from Castor through Pollux points to it about 2½ fists away. ![]() It's lower right of Regulus by about two fists at arm's length. Find Hydra's head, a rather dim asterism about the width of your thumb at arm's length, high in the southwest. ■ These spring evenings, the long, dim sea serpent Hydra snakes far across the southern sky. ■ Now the thickening Moon shines over Venus during and after dusk, as shown above. The long sides of the triangle are both 8° long (for much of the Americas). ■ Venus, the crescent Moon, and Aldebaran form a nearly isosceles triangle in the west as darkness falls, as shown above. Mercury, though plotted here, is almost hopelessly low and faint. The waxing crescent Moon steps up in the western twilight past the delicate Pleiades (use binoculars), then past power-shining Venus. As the sky gets darker watch for Aldebaran to appear, and then, much fainter, the Pleiades. ■ In twilight this evening, look for the thin crescent Moon far to the lower right of Venus as shown below. ![]()
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