Predawn moon above the Scorpion’s Stinger on March 14
On the morning of Wednesday, March 14, 2012, the waning gibbous moon helps you to locate the two “tail-end” stars of the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. These two very noticeable stars – called Shaula and Lesath – are often shown on old star maps at the tip of the Scorpion’s Stinger.
Shortly after sunset, Venus and Jupiter can be found in the western sky.
Shortly after sunset, Venus and Jupiter can be found in the western sky.
But if you’re not much of a morning person – or even if you are – be sure to check out the sky’s two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, pairing up in the west after sunset. At mid-northern latitudes, they stay out for nearly four hours after sundown, and these two worlds won’t light up the nighttime hours for such a long period of time again until late October 2015.
How to see Mars in March 2012
The stars at the end of the J-shaped Scorpion – Shaula and Lesath – mean raised tail and stinger, respectively, in Arabic, although there is some controversy over the origin of Lesath. The Scorpion is a very noticeable constellation, one of the few that look like their namesakes. To Northern Hemisphere viewers, this pattern of stars appears to have a curved tail sweeping down toward the southern horizon. Antares (the Scorpion’s reddish heart) is the brightest star in Scorpius, but Shaula and Lesath are very noticeable, too, for being at the end of the curved tail pattern and for appearing so close together. You’ll spot them easily if you look outside – under the moon – Wednesday morning.
How to see Mars in March 2012
The stars at the end of the J-shaped Scorpion – Shaula and Lesath – mean raised tail and stinger, respectively, in Arabic, although there is some controversy over the origin of Lesath. The Scorpion is a very noticeable constellation, one of the few that look like their namesakes. To Northern Hemisphere viewers, this pattern of stars appears to have a curved tail sweeping down toward the southern horizon. Antares (the Scorpion’s reddish heart) is the brightest star in Scorpius, but Shaula and Lesath are very noticeable, too, for being at the end of the curved tail pattern and for appearing so close together. You’ll spot them easily if you look outside – under the moon – Wednesday morning.
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