• Have you noticed the little star near dazzling Venus in the west after sunset in May 2012? There are several bright stars in that part of the sky now, but we're talking about the one right next to Venus.
• This star is Elnath, the second-brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Look for Venus and Elnath in the west as darkness falls. Although Elnath is a respectably bright second-magnitude star, it pales next to Venus - the most brilliant celestial body to light up tonight's evening sky.
• Elnath marks direction to galactic anticenter
• As a matter of fact, Venus outshines Elnath by about 250 times. Still, if your sky is dark enough - in other words, if it's long enough af

ter sunset - you should be able see Elnath pop into view with the unaided eye. If you can't see a star next to Venus, try binoculars.
• The star Elnath marks the Northern Horn of the Bull in the constellation Taurus. It also marks the direction opposite the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
• Elnath has been near Venus throughout May 2012. By mid-month, Venus and Elnath shine about two degrees apart - that's the width of your little finger. Hold your finger at arm's length when making this measurement.
• On May 15, 2012, Venus will be stationary according to astronomical almanacs. Stationary does not mean that this planet - like Polaris, the North Star - stays in the same spot in the sky all night long. In fact, you can count on Venus to follow the sun below the horizon a short while after nightfall tonight and every night.
• Instead, stationary means that Venus is about to reverse its course in front of the backdrop stars. It's an indication that Venus will soon drop into the sunset glare. Venus will seem to pause by the star Elnath for many days in a row around mid-May, as Venus stops going eastward through the constellation Taurus the Bull. On May 15, Venus will pause briefly in front of the stars before heading back westward again.
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