Stellar time bombs shine in tonight’s sky. Among the brightest are Antares, the heart of Scorpius, which is low in the south, and Deneb, the tail of the swan, in the northeast. Each will end its life with a titanic blast known as a supernova.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
July 27: Zone of Death
July 28: Moon and Jupiter
The giant planet Jupiter is quite close to the Moon tonight, and shines like a brilliant star. The true star Spica is close to their left, adding to the beautiful conjunction.
July 29: Vega
Vega, one of the brightest stars of summer nights, stands high in the sky as darkness falls this evening. It’s the brightest member of the Summer Triangle, a wide-spread pattern that’s easy to pick out even through the murky skies of a city.
July 30: Double Double
Epsilon Lyrae, a famous double-double star system, stands high in the east as darkness falls this month, in Lyra, the harp. If you have sharp eyesight, you might see Epsilon Lyrae as two stars. A telescope reveals two more of its stars.
July 31: Evening Stars
Several prominent stars highlight summer’s evening skies. Arcturus is high in the west at nightfall, with slightly fainter Vega overhead. The Big Dipper is in the northwest, and Antares, the heart of the scorpion, hunkers low in the south.
August 1: Moon and Companions
The Moon has two bright companions tonight. The star Antares, the heart of the scorpion, stands below or to the lower left of the Moon at nightfall. The brighter planet Saturn is a bit farther to the lower left of the Moon.
August 2: Moon and Saturn
The ringed planet Saturn stands quite close to the Moon tonight. The planet looks like a bright star just to the lower left of the Moon at nightfall.