2 weeks Ago
First Quarter Moon is this weekend. getty Each Friday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the weekend (which also applies to northern hemisphere mid-northern latitudes). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
With next weekend all about the full pink moon, take a few minutes to look at the night sky before it becomes too bright for serious stargazing. The first quarter moon will move through the constellation Gemini toward Mars, while Orion — surely the most iconic constellation of all — is dropping towards the southwestern horizon, destined to become hidden from view for six months. Here’s what to see in the night sky this weekend: The moon will look half-lit tonight as reaches its first quarter phase.
This is the moment of the month when the night sky begins to get becomes bleached by moonlight, making stargazing tricky. However, this will be a fine sight since the moon will be positioned near the feet of the constellation Gemini and edging close to Mars. Look to the right of the moon to find Capella, one of the brightest stars in the sky, and the red supergiant Betelgeuse in Orion below it.
Tonight’s highlight is a beautiful gathering of the moon, Mars, and the bright stars of Gemini — Castor and Pollux. Mars, still an obvious reddish color, will be positioned a couple of degrees from the 60%-illuminated waxing gibbous moon. Above them both, you’ll see the two bright stars of Gemini, Pollux (closest to the moon and Mars) and Castor (slightly farther away) make a triangle.
Tonight, take one last look at Orion, surely the most iconic and recognizable of all the winter constellations in the Northern Hemisphere. Before it disappears from the night sky for the summer, look to the west, where Orion’s Belt — three stars (Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka) in a straight line — will be visible just above the southwestern horizon. Above the belt, the red giant Betelgeuse will shine, looking slightly reddish (particularly if you squint).
Did you see the partial solar eclipse last weekend? Whether you did or not, you’ll want to know when the next eclipse is. The next one, a partial solar eclipse, is on September 21. On that date, a maximum of 80% eclipse will be seen from the Indian Ocean, close to Antarctica, New Zealand, and the southwestern South Pacific.
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be seen from parts of Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain for a maximum of 2 minutes and 18 seconds, while North America will experience a slight partial solar eclipse. The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium .
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes..
