Minnesota Starwatch

1 week ago | pineandlakes.com | Deane Morrison |Minnesota Starwatch

As the summer stars move into prominence in the evening sky, the spring constellation Leo, the lion, slinks away in the west as it begins its descent into the sunset. Facing the same fate, Mars, with its relatively high orbital speed, resists its inevitable tumble. Between June 15 and 17, Mars and Regulus, Leo’s brightest star, slip past each other somewhat low in the west. Mars will be just above Regulus, the base of the Sickle — a backward question mark of stars outlining the lion’s head.

2 months ago | brainerddispatch.com | Deane Morrison |Minnesota Starwatch

In April the iconic stars of Orion and other famous winter constellations drop westward as they begin their annual exit from the evening sky. In the early part of the month, look to the west at nightfall for the constellation that topped the wintry array of bright stars. This is Auriga, the charioteer, a polygon of stars set off by brilliant Capella. Capella now shines above Jupiter, the brightest object in the evening sky after the moon.

Feb 27, 2025 | brainerddispatch.com | Deane Morrison |Minnesota Starwatch

In March the iconic winter constellations continue to dominate the southern evening sky. Whether you’ve seen them or not, this is a prime year to enjoy them, since the assembly now includes brilliant Jupiter, the beacon above Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the bull; and Mars, which shines east of Jupiter, next to the Gemini twin stars Pollux and Castor. And as always, Sirius, the brightest of stars, anchors the group. In the west, Venus drops into the sun’s afterglow in mid-month.