Real Talk!

Romantics have done it for eons, but somehow, gazing at the night sky never gets old. You don’t have to worry about identifying the objects you are viewing, just relax and enjoy the splendor of the night sky.

People have been looking up there- for as long as there have been people! Stars and planets can be used to ascertain direction and the time… once you have moved past the sheer entertainment of it all and have researched enough that you can identify some specific stars and/or constellations.

In the northern hemisphere, the remainder of May and early June are the best time (at least this year) for spotting Mercury in the night sky. In the weeks ahead, Mercury stays out a bit longer after sunset, but this world also dims day by day.

Tonight, use the moon to spot Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet. It will appear next to the whispy-thin crescent waxing moon. It really is exciting, when you realize what is visible to the unaided eye.

If you have some, grab binoculars around dusk(hot chocolate and a flashlight are optional) and look toward the west (the direction of sunset)- usually the first star you can see at night is actually the planet Venus. Venus is the second planet out from the sun and next to the sun and moon, it is the most brilliant celestial object to light up the heavens.

Locate now, the moon. If you draw an imaginary line from Venus and just to the left of the moon you will be able to locate Mercury quite close to the horizon. Even though Mercury shines more than pretty well any star, the planet’s glow is reduced substantially by the glare at twilight.

Start looking for Mercury about 30 to 45 minutes after the sun sets… Mercury itself sets about 1.5 hours after sundown (in this part of the world).

May 18, 2007
The crescent Moon and the evening star put on a beautiful show this weekend. They will pop into view in the west shortly after sunset. Tonight, the evening star -- really the planet Venus -- is well to the upper left of the Moon. But tomorrow evening, they will be so close together that they will almost appear to touch.

May 19, 2007
One of the most beautiful sky watching events of the year takes place this evening, as the crescent Moon sneaks by the planet Venus, the “evening star.” They are well up in the west at sunset, and will not set until around midnight. At their closest, they will be separated by about the width of the Moon itself.

May 20, 2007
The crescent Moon lines up with the twins of Gemini this evening, while a planet dangles below them. Gemini’s leading stars are Pollux and Castor, the “heads” of the twins. Pollux is to the right of the Moon, with Castor to the right of Pollux. Venus, the “evening star,” shines brilliantly to the lower right of the Moon.