If you rise early Friday and have an unobstructed view of the east to northeast, look for the moon low on the horizon around 4:50 a.m.
Just to the left (north) of the moon and slightly higher above the horizon will be fleeting Mercury. Somewhat higher up from the moon and Mercury is ever brilliant Venus 12 degrees above the horizon. Topping off this view is Orion to the south rising in the brightening predawn sky.
If you miss this predawn show or want to see other celestial delights, look toward the south around 9 p.m. at the end of astronomical twilight.
Directly south, spread out in maximum grandeur, is Scorpius the Scorpion with red Antares, the 15th brightest star in the sky. At 9 p.m. Antares will be almost due south and about 31 degrees above the horizon. To its right (west) are three bright stars running vertically representing the Scorpion’s head and pinchers. To the left (east) of Antares and running toward the south are stars in the Scorpion’s body and tail that curves back upon itself at the stinger.
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Scorpius is one of the largest, brightest constellations, and of all the constellations representing a legendary beast or hero, it most clearly resembles what it is supposed to represent from its head and heart to its long curved tail with a stinger.
Scorpius is frequently viewed because of its beauty and because a portion of the Milky Way goes through Scorpius with many nebulae and star clusters in the constellation favored by astronomers. For even more fun, give Scorpius a try with low-power binoculars.
