May 16, 2010
As the Sun sets this evening, a beautiful drama plays out in the western sky: the Moon and the planet Venus brightening into view through the twilight. Venus is the "evening star," to the lower right of the crescent Moon. They form the most striking duo in the night sky.
May 17, 2010
Corona Borealis, the northern crown, soars high across the sky tonight. It is fairly low in the northeast at sunset, but stands high overhead around midnight. Although its individual stars are modest, combined they form a striking semicircle, like a crown.
May 18, 2010
Plenty of bright stars twinkle across the sky tonight. As it gets dark, for example, Vega is climbing into view in the northeast, with yellow-orange Arcturus high in the east-southeast, and the twins of Gemini to the right of the Moon.
May 19, 2010
The planet Mars is in good view tonight. It stands above the Moon as night falls this evening, and follows the Moon down the sky. Mars looks like a bright orange star.
May 20, 2010
The first-quarter Moon forms a wide, skinny triangle with two bright companions tonight. Regulus, the brightest star of Leo, the lion, is to the upper right of the Moon, with the orange planet Mars farther to the Moon's right. They are high in the sky at nightfall and set by around 2 a.m.
May 21, 2010
Scorpius, the scorpion, is entering prime evening viewing time. Its brightest star, Antares, rises about an hour after sunset, with the scorpion's "stinger" following about an hour later. Look for bright orange Antares low in the southeast around 10 p.m.
May 22, 2010
The planet Saturn appears near the Moon tonight. They are high in the south at sunset, with Saturn above the Moon. It looks like a bright golden star.
for more info go to http://stardate.org/nightsky/weekly.php
