Steve Dodson

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Early Thursday AM, about 45 minutes before Sunrise, aim your binoculars just above the southeastern horizon to find Venus. If your Sky is very clear, a tiny red light will appear a moon' space below Venus - the Planet Mars!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Early Wednesday AM (about 1/2 hour before Sunrise) use binoculars to say "Hello" to the Planet Mars, about a field's width to the left of Venus, very low in the Southeast. A slim Crescent Moon skims the horizon to the lower left of Venus.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Thursday Evening Dazzle: The Moon and Jupiter appear close together high up in the southwestern Sky! The Gas Giant Planet is actually about 2000 times farther away than our Moon.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Monday Morning 45 min. before Sunrise, the Crescent Moon, below and to the right of brilliant Venus, is creeping up on the star Antares. In Western North America the Star will be covered up by the Moon. See Mercury to the lower left of the Moon in the Southeast

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

At the beginning of this longest night of the year, the two brightest lights in the Evening Sky shine about as far apart as the two "Pointer Stars" of the Big Dipper!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Jupiter trails this evening's Gibbous Moon. As the pair moves from East to West, the Moon creeps steadily closer to Jupiter, showing us how fast it moves in its orbit around Earth. The pair will be much closer in Saturday's morning twilight!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Saturn has dimmed a little since last month, and some may find it inconspicuous. Monday Evening, however, it is easily found a binocular field to the upper right of the 1st Quarter Moon.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

With morning twilight coming after people are already up, many stargazers can look out a window towards a spectacular meeting of the Crescent Moon high in the Southeast Thursday Morning.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

100 hours after blocking the Sun in Saturday's Annular Eclipse, the New Moon is a slim crescent during mid-twilight early this evening (after supper may be too late!). Look low in the SW. Notice Antares a short gap to the right.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Jupiter and the Moon rise in the east tonight appearing very close together. The two bright luminaries will create a dazzling display!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Have you seen Saturn Lately? Tonight after dark is a good time to spot the Ringed Planet, since the Moon will appear close by in the southwest , to its lower right in the southwest. Even binoculars will show its elongated un-star-like shape!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

After full darkness tonight (Monday evg.) look at the waning Moon in the Southeast. The brilliant gas giant planet Jupiter shines a short distance to the upper right of the Moon, providing a dazzling sight!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Perseid Meteors reach their peak in early Sunday Morning's final dark hours, but they have been streaking through the Sky from late July to the end of August, as soon as darkness falls. Get as far as you can from artificial light, relax on a lawn chair, and enjoy up to 1/min!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

After dark Friday Night look a short distance to the right of the Moon in the Southern Sky to see the Red Giant Star Antares, the "Heart" of the Zodiac Scorpion, Scorpius.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Look for an amazing display low in the West 30 - 45 minutes after sunset Wednesday Evening: a Slim Crescent Moon lies to the upper right of Venus, Binoculars show Mercury beneath the Moon, and Mars sits to the upper left of Venus!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

In the western Sky, Mars appears only 2 "Moon Diameters" from the Star Regulus after dark on Sunday Evening. Binoculars will show a difference in shape and color!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

In the western evening Sky Venus has been creeping up on Mars. The two planets now appear about as close as they will get, sharing a binocular field. Put Venus in the lower right portion of your bino view, and Mars will occupy the upper left.

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

The Crescent Moon and Venus make a spectacular display in this evening's western Sky, with Venus a short space to the lower left of the Moon. After full darkness, Mars, to the upper left of Venus, sits at the 3d vertex of a compact right triangle!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

If you have a view to the Southeast very early tomorrow (Saturday) morning, notice the star to the upper right of the Moon. It is not a star, but the Planet Saturn!

[Steve Dodson @StargazerSteveD]

Friday Night when it is fully dark the Nearly Full Moon is close to the Red Giant Star Antares. Look to the upper right of Moon in the southeast to see the zodiac star.