Skywatching: June 8-12

If you look toward the west just after sunset this week, you will see a string of bright lights. The brightest two are the planets Venus (the brightest planet) and Jupiter. Venus is below and to the right of Jupiter, and as the days pass this month, Venus will appear closer and closer to Jupiter.

Once you find these two bright planets, you may notice two more bright objects near them, completing a line of four lights. Above and to the left of Jupiter is the star Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, the lion. Below and to the right of Venus is the star Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini, the twins. You should see something like the image below (from earthsky.org):

Keep watching the western sky all month, and you will notice how the two planets are moving relative to one another but that the two stars remained essentially fixed.