The sun sets at 7:34 p.m. on Thursday, July 7. Look toward the west around 8 p.m. to see the moon, which sits just 2 degrees south (left) of Regulus the brightest star in Leo the Lion.
Higher above the western horizon is bright Jupiter. If you have a very clear sky, you will be able to catch brilliant Venus just one degree above the northwestern horizon. Venus is making a brief visit to our early evening western sky this month.
The moon sets at 10 p.m. Thursday, a good time to enjoy Scorpius the Scorpion, which will be directly south at that time. Bright Mars sits to the west (right) of the Scorpionβs pinchers and Saturn is 6 degrees directly above (north) of the bright red star Antares at the heart of the Scorpion.
Scorpius is a wonderful constellation as it is large and bright and actually resembles its namesake. Moreover, a beautiful portion of the Milky Way goes through the tail of Scorpius.
