Eltanin, an Arabic name that means "the serpent," is the brightest star of Draco, the dragon, which is high in the north on summer evenings. Eltanin is as bright as the nearby North Star, Polaris.
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 10: Eltanin
June 11: Evening Array
The planets Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury, and the stars Pollux and Castor-the "twins" of Gemini-congregate in the west in early evening. Venus is the brightest member, with the twins to its right, and Jupiter and Mercury to its lower right.
June 12: 'Shifting' Stars
Two bright stars that are on the move are in view at nightfall this evening. Regulus, which is moving away from us, is in the west, well to the upper left of the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter. Antares, low in the southeast, is sliding toward us.
June 13: Methuselah Star
The Methuselah Star, so called because it's roughly the age of the universe, is in Libra. As night falls, the star is to the lower left of Zubeneschamali, Libra's leading light. It is too faint to see with the eye alone, but it is visible through binoculars.
June 14: Evening Mercury
The planet Mercury is in view in the evening twilight the next few nights. Although it looks like a bright star, it is so low that you need a clear horizon to spot it. It lines up to the lower right of the much brighter planets Venus and Jupiter.
June 15: Cocoon Nebula
A cluster of young stars is just emerging from its birthplace, the Cocoon Nebula. It's about 4,000 light-years away, in Cygnus. It is low in the northeast at nightfall, to the lower left of bright Deneb, the swan's tail. The nebula is too faint to see with the eye alone.
June 16: Moon and Companions
As evening twilight fades, the planet Mercury is close below the Moon. Brighter Jupiter is to the left or upper left of the Moon; Pollux and Castor, the twins of Gemini, to the upper right; and Venus, the Evening Star, farther to the upper left.