SUNSET: 
This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 4 – 12
Mars is big, bright and close as it nears opposition! It nears the gibbous Moon this weekend.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 28 – September 5
Betelgeuse is dimming again. . . somewhat. After its historic fade last winter to magnitude +1.6, Orion's red supergiant Betelgeuse fully recovered, to +0.4, before it disappeared into the sunset for the season. But now as it emerges low in the east before dawn, it seems to have faded back…
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 21 – 29
After dark, Jupiter and Saturn shine in the southeast to south, lined up almost level now. And Fomalhaut, the Autumn Star, is making its inevitable appearance above the southeast horizon.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 14 – 22
Jupiter and Saturn line up level in the south earlier in the evening now, as summer proceeds. How early in twilight can you see them both? High upper left of them shines Altair. As night comes on, look for the Sagittarius Teapot to Jupiter's lower right.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 7 – 15
It's Perseid meteor week! The shower peaks on the night of August 11th, but you may see the occasional Perseid any night and perhaps already have. Jupiter and Saturn shine in the southeast after dark. Bright Vega passes closest to overhead around 10 or 11 p.m.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 31 – August 8
Mars rises in the east around 11 p.m. daylight saving time this week, in Pisces. Watch for it to come up below the Great Square of Pegasus.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 24 – August 1
All this summer, there's no missing Jupiter and Saturn on any clear evening. Jupiter is the brightest point in the evening sky. Saturn is left of it.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 17 – 25
The waxing crescent Moon swells back into the evening sky this week, and Jupiter and Saturn are at opposition on the nights of July 13th and 20th, respectively.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 10 – 18
Jupiter and Saturn rise in twilight this week. Mars is a fire-beacon high in the southeast by the beginning of dawn. Venus, low as dawn begins to brighten, passes just 1° from Aldebaran on Saturday and Sunday mornings July 11th and 12th.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 3 – 11
This is the time of year when the two brightest stars of summer, Arcturus and Vega, are equally high overhead at dusk. Arcturus is toward the southwest, Vega is toward the east.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 26 – July 4
Every morning now, Venus is getting a little higher and easier to spot in the east-northeast as dawn brightens
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 19 – 27
Leo the Lion is mostly a constellation of late winter and spring. But he's not gone yet. As twilight ends look due west, somewhat low, for Regulus, his brightest and now lowest star: the forefoot of the Lion stick figure. The Sickle of Leo extends upper right from Regulus. The rest of the Lion's constellation figure extends for almost three fists to the upper left, to his tail star Denebola, the highest. He'll soon be treading away into the sunset.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 12 – 20
As we count down the days to official summer (the solstice is June 20th), the big Summer Triangle shines high and proud in the east after dark. Its top star is bright Vega. Deneb is the brightest star to Vega's lower left. Look for Altair farther to Vega's lower right.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 5 – 13
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 ■ Catch Mercury in twilight! It's under Pollux and Castor this week, as shown below. Mercury is ending its last good evening showing until winter 2021. Mercury is still visible in the western twilight, under the heads of Gemini, but it's fading. This scene is drawn for…
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 29 – June 6
Bright Capella is still up in the northwest in twilight, but it sets in the northwest fairly soon after dark. That leaves Vega and Arcturus as the brightest two stars in the evening sky. Both are magnitude 0. Vega shines in the east-northeast. Arcturus is very high toward the south.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 22 – 30
Venus is a super-thin crescent as it plunges down to the sunset horizon this week. Bring out the telescope and/or binoculars. Mercury, also in the western evening twilight, is a tiny "half Moon" with a much less intense surface brightness.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 15 – 23
Catch Venus and Mercury in conjunction on the 21st, only 1° apart, in twilight for North America. That's about the width of a pencil held at arm's length. Think photo opportunity!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 8 – 16
Pollux and Castor form the top of the enormous Arch of Spring. To their lower left is Procyon, the left end of the Arch. Farther to their lower right is the other end, formed by Menkalinan (Beta Aurigae) and then brilliant Capella.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 1 – 9
Look high in the west for Pollux and Castor, the heads of the Gemini twins. They form the top of the enormous Arch of Spring. To their lower left is Procyon, the left end of the Arch. Farther to their lower right is brilliant Capella.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 24 – May 2
Astronomy is an outdoor nature hobby. For an easy-to-use constellation guide covering the whole evening sky, use the big monthly map in the center of Sky & Telescope magazine.
