The planets Venus and Jupiter are in the dawn sky now. Venus is the brilliant Morning Star. Slightly fainter Jupiter, which is the largest planet in the solar system, stands well to its upper right.
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).
August 30: Venus Flyby
August 31: Moon and Heart
Antares, which is close to the right of the Moon this evening, is flanked by two fairly bright stars that share a name: Alniyat, which means "the arteries." The stars probably are siblings of Antares -- they all formed from the same complex of gas and dust.
September 1: Tau Ceti
Tau Ceti, a star in the Cetus, rises by midnight, far to the lower left of the bright planet Saturn. Tau Ceti is a bit smaller, lighter, and cooler than the Sun, but overall, it's quite similar. The biggest difference is that it may be twice the Sun's age.
September 2: Zodiacal Light
If you are in a clear, dark country location before dawn over the next few weeks, you might see the elusive zodiacal light. Look toward the eastern horizon before twilight for a ghostly pyramid, which is sunlight reflecting off of dust grains between the planets.
September 3: Water World
Draco, the dragon, twists high across the north at nightfall. One of its faint stars has a companion planet, which is bigger and heavier than Earth. Scientists say the planet could have a deep global ocean, making it a possible home for life.
September 4: Jupiter in the Middle
The planet Jupiter will slide past Wasat, one of the brighter stars of Gemini, the next few mornings. They are well up in the east at dawn. Jupiter looks like a brilliant star, far to the upper right of even-brighter Venus. Wasat will stand below Jupiter tomorrow.
September 5: Cover-Up
The Moon tonight will briefly cover Deneb Algedi, the brightest star of Capricornus. The vanishing act will be in view from much of the U.S. Deneb Algedi isn't very bright, but binoculars will help you see it. From much of the western U.S., the Moon will just miss it.