This week, and the rest of the month for that matter, you’ll be able to find one of the most famous clusters of stars in the night sky.
While technically an asterism that’s part of the larger constellation Ursa Major (the “Great Bear”), the easily recognizable Big Dipper will hold a prominent position in the sky this week.
Look for it in the north sky and while you’re at it use the two stars farthest away from the dipper’s handle to find Polaris. The North Star is on a path that's nearly a straight from the two.
On Tuesday morning you can use the waning crescent moon to locate the "morning star" or Venus. It’ll be directly left of the moon in the night sky. Look in the east about an hour before sunrise.
Venus will be hard to miss as it’ll be one of the brightest objects in the sky second only to the aforementioned waning crescent moon.
Shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning we’ll welcome a new season. At 12:24 a.m. on June 21 the sun will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer reaching its highest point north of the celestial equator.
That’s the point of the Summer Solstice and when the season officially begins but our friends in the Southern Hemisphere will be starting their winter.
We’ll welcome the new moon on Friday evening at 10:31 p.m. It won’t be visible in the sky but the sky will be darker so stargazing will be easier Friday night and the few days on either side of the event. Happy hunting!
