Tonight, you can see a star that shows us roughly what the Sun would look like seen from 30 light-years away. That's how far it is to Beta Comae Berenices, a Sun-like star that's well to the right of the Big Dipper's handle in early evening.
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).
April 25: Beta Coma Berenices
April 26: Guardians of the Pole
Kochab and Pherkad serve several roles. The stars are part of the body of Ursa Minor, the little bear. They form the outer edge of the bowl of the Little Dipper. And they are "guardians of the pole" - they circle around the Pole Star, Polaris.
April 27: New Moon
The Moon is "new" today at 2:31 p.m. CDT as it crosses between Earth and the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare. It will pop into view as a thin crescent low in the western evening sky by Monday or Tuesday.
April 28: Cor Caroli
Cor Caroli, the "Heart of Charles," is the leading light of Canes Venatici, the hunting dogs. It's to the right of the handle of the Big Dipper as night falls, and wheels above the dipper later on.
April 29: Moon and Jupiter
Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, looks like a brilliant star. It appears close to the Moon the next couple of nights: to the upper left of the Moon tonight, and a little closer below the Moon tomorrow night.
April 30: Hydra
Hydra, the water snake, slithers low across the sky on spring evenings. Its faint head is in the southwest at nightfall, with its sinuous body stretching far to the left of the head.