If you're going to be outside this evening, make sure to take along your sweater and/or jacket. The local high school football season begins this evening with several intriguing matchups. A number of fairs and carnivals are scheduled this weekend, too. You way even want to start a backyard fire, toast marshmallows, and gaze into the heavens.
The two most visible objects in the Eastern sky during the late-evening hours will put on a brilliant showing this evening. Unfortunately, lingering clouds, light showers, and a gusty wind obscured the view of the Moon and Jupiter last night. However, you'll see a waning gibbous Moon near what appears to be a brilliant silvery non-twinkling "star." That, however, is the planet Jupiter.
Jupiter will rise above the Eastern horizon just before 9 o'clock this evening. The Moon, meanwhile, will be located about six degrees to Jupiter's left. Your clenched fist held at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees. You will be able to get a perfect view tonight. A couple of hours after Jupiter rises, the planet will have climbed higher above the horizon, and it will gleam with a brighter light.
Now is a good time to start examining the famous Galilean satellites, the four largest Moons of Jupiter. They are Europa, Ganymede, Io, and Callisto. Tonight, you should be able to see all four of them. Three will be on one side (Callisto, Ganymede and Io), while Europa will appear on the other.
Whatever you have planned this weekend, the weather will certainly cooperate. It's the last weekend of Summer, but it will look and feel like early Autumn. Saturday will be partly sunny and cool with a high temperature in the mid 60s. Sunday will be partly-to-mostly sunny with a high in the upper 60s. Have a good weekend.
Paul
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