For many the night sky at this time of year is the best. Mild temperatures at night makes being outdoors more comfortable. It is camping weather. For the next two weeks the moon will pretty much be out of our way. The nights get dark after 9 o’clock and there is plenty to see overhead.

 

The summer constellations are in their glory. Even the regulars like the Big Dipper, Bootes, Cygnus and the zodiacal constellation Scorpius are a wonderous sight. If the sky is clear, you’ll see the Milky Way stretching from the northeastern sky, almost overhead, and down to the southeast. The Milky Way overhead is particularly flavorful, as it has texture. Parts are bright, while other parts contain black clouds (coal sacks) obscuring the stars behind.

 

Stay tuned at night. Keep your head up and you might see a meteor shooting across the sky. The Perseid meteor shower radiant day may be in the past, but the shower can still produce a small show.

Jupiter, the brightest planet in the sky is almost due South after sunset in Scorpius. Look slightly to the east and Saturn shines at the eastern edge of the zodiacal constellation Sagittarius.