THE STARS THIS WEEK

Sunday

Columba the dove is near the horizon this evening. The constellation is small but contains a number of colorful double stars best seen in binoculars and low-powered telescopes.

Monday

The moon reaches firstquarter phase, a good time to look for craters and surface features with binoculars and telescopes. Gaze along the terminator — the line that divides the lit from the unlit portions — for your best views.

Tuesday

Blue-white Venus continues to blaze in the southeast before dawn. The planet’s phase shape can easily be seen in telescopes. This week Venus glows north of the the bright red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius the scorpion.

Wednesday

Near Venus burns even brighter yellow Jupiter. A telescope will reveal the planet’s four largest moons and colorful bands that cross its atmosphere.

Thursday

Early this morning the moon swings to the south of M-45, the Pleiades star cluster. Nicknamed the seven sisters, this group is best using binoculars or low-powered telescopes.

Weekend

Red Mars shines in the south after sunset. This winter’s total lunar eclipse will occur late Sunday evening.