The crescent Moon is low in the west at sunset. And it has a prominent companion: Venus, the brilliant Evening Star. They drop from sight a couple of hours later.
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).
June 17: Moon and Venus
June 18: Little Dipper
The Little Dipper extends almost straight up from the North Star, Polaris, in early evening. It is part of the constellation Ursa Minor, the little bear. The dipper spans about 20 degrees, which is the width of your spread-out hand held at arm's length.
June 19: Moon and Regulus
Regulus, the brightest star of the constellation Leo, stands close to the right or lower right of the Moon at nightfall. They stay close together as they drop down the western sky, and they set around midnight.
June 20: Summer Solstice
Summer arrives in the United States in the wee hours of tomorrow morning at the moment of the June solstice. At the solstice, the Sun stands farthest north for the entire year. The solstice marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
June 21: First-Quarter Moon
The Moon is at first quarter today. It lines up at a right angle to the line between Earth and the Sun, so sunlight illuminates half of the lunar hemisphere that faces Earth.
June 22: The Scorpion's Head
The scorpion skitters low across the south on summer nights. Its brightest star is Antares. The scorpion's body and tail curl to the lower left with the head to the upper right, marked by a line of three evenly spaced stars that are of roughly equal brightness.
June 23: Moon and Spica
Spica, which represents a stalk of wheat held in the hand of Virgo, the maiden, perches close to the upper right of the Moon at nightfall. It is one of several bright stars in the night sky that are likely to end their lives with brilliant explosions.