Sky Lights ~ Cancer

Mercury pops up in the morning twilight around 5:00am during Cancer. Begin looking low in the northeast during the last few days of June. The planet lies north of Aldebaran and slightly outshines the star 6/28. 5am Map 6/28 Watch the waning crescent Moon move nearer to Mercury until the last vestige of the old Moon is at its closest approach to the planet the morning of 7/1. Mercury also reaches greatest elongation 7/1.

Mars and Saturn in the constellation Leo the Lion are sinking toward the western horizon and the Sun's glowing light. Watch the Red Planet move closer and closer to Leo the Lion's heart star, Regulus, with its closest approach 6/30. Mars slides past Regulus as July begins and heads toward Saturn, conjoining the planet 7/10. Use binoculars to really enjoy the different hue of each; Mars is orangy-red, Saturn is yellowish and Regulus is blue-white. The waxing Crescent Moon lines up with this trio July 4-6. 7/5 Map Saturn outshines the three and Mars is slightly dimmer than Regulus. As Mars nears Regulus, Saturn moves further away from the star. Mars sets around 11:30pm at the beginning of Cancer and by its end at 10:45pm. Saturn sets at midnight in the beginning of Cancer and by its end just after 10:30pm. You'll want to view both planets now before they disappear into the solar glare. As Mars and Saturn sink in the west, brilliant Jupiter rises in the east. 7/10 10:00pm Sky Chart Saturn's rings are closing toward their 2009 edge-on view.

Jupiter gives its best performance during Cancer, reaching opposition 7/9/08. This means it is closest to the Earth for 2008, out all night long and at its biggest and brightest. The giant planet rises in the southeast within an hour of sunset, is highest in the south at 1:00am, and sets in the west around sunrise. Jupiter is the brightest object in the sky with the exception of the Sun and Moon. The planet remains located at the eastern border of the constellation Sagittarius throughout 2008 and is retrograde (5/9 - 9/6). 7/10 10:00pm Sky Chart

Venus, in July, begins to leave the Sun's glowing embrace and emerge above the sunset horizon. With an unobstructed northwestern view and sharp eyes one can begin their Venus watch July 1, when the planet sets 30 minutes after the Sun. Most of us can expect to see Venus to pop through the twilight glow of sunset during mid-July. Venus sets just before 9:00pm in the beginning of Cancer and shortly after 9:00pm at its end.

Arcturus is the bright golden star overhead at sunset. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there spike down to blue-white Spica in the south. The westward movement of Arcturus and the Big Dipper can be observed until 2:30am. Notice the seasonal position of the Big Dipper's bowl.

Scorpius the cosmic scorpion, a sprawling j-shaped constellation, is seen in the southeast at sunset. Antares is the red heart star of Scorpius. Track Bunny's Footprints in Scorpius throughout the year!

The Summer Triangle a stellar right triangle is high in the northeast at sunset. Vega is the brightest star and western point; Deneb the dimmest star and eastern point, Altair is the southern point. Hercules the Strong Man lies about a third of the way from bright white Vega to golden Arcturus in the northwest. Look for his four star wedge-shaped torso. Star Chart

The Milky Way appears like a faint cloud extending from Scorpius on the southern horizon, to the Summer Triangle high overhead, and onward toward Cassiopeia (M or W shaped) on the northern horizon. Star Map.

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