Yesterday before dawn, while breathing in the smell of brewing coffee, I saw through my kitchen window a thin waning crescent Moon with earthshine; my wife said she saw it on her way to work, and it was just beautiful! This morning, the Moon was lower in the southeastern sky, and Saturn, Mars and Jupiter are spread across the southern sky. The stars Antares and Spica will be accompanying Mars and Jupiter for the next several weeks in the southern predawn sky. Before dawn, the “W” of Cassiopeia is low in the northern sky. After sunset, Ursa Major and the “Big Dipper” are low in the northern sky. After sunset, Orion and Canis Major – with the bright star Sirius, are in the southern sky. If you arrive home shortly after midnight, Ursa Major, Leo and Gemini will be directly overhead. Shortly after midnight, Orion, Canis Major and Taurus will be setting in the west. The Moon The Moon is a … Continue reading →