Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Jan. 28 6:57 4:51

Sat., Jan. 29 6:57 4:53

Sun., Jan. 30 6:56 4:54

Mon., Jan. 31 6:55 4:55

Tues., Feb. 1 6:54 4:56

Wed., Feb. 2 6:53 4:58

Thurs., Feb. 3 6:52 4:59

Fri., Feb. 4 6:51 5:00

A thin crescent moon appears low in the southeastern sky tomorrow morning, right next to the bright planet Venus. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius.

Scorpius is the southernmost zodiacal constellation; The two celestial objects will not get very high in the east as dawn arrives. This is a constellation we associate more with summer than spring or winter.

The new moon is Wednesday.

By 9 p.m. the stars are out and shining; It is a fact that the stars of winter are brighter than any other time of the year. The large constellations are all easily identifiable in winter. With the aid of a star chart, it is easy to spot Orion the hunter high in the south. The most notable part of Orion is the hunter’s belt, three stars that are equidistant. Betelgeuse, a red star, marks Orion’s right shoulder and the bright star Rigel marks the hunter’s left knee.

Sirius, the brightest star of the night, shines with a blueish tint to the east of Orion low in the southern horizon. Overhead are the constellations Gemini and Auriga. The big dipper is rising in the east. The constellation Cassiopeia is high in the northwest.

M.A.L.