On the evening of May 24, 2012, the waxing crescent moon shines close to Castor and Pollux, the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini the Twins. The moon is waxing toward a lunar eclipse on June 4. Finally, don't forget to watch the bright planet Venus, as it drops into the sun's glare.

Gemini? Here's your constellation

People often refer to Castor and Pollux as "The Twins" but they aren't really twins at all. At a distance of about 34 light-

years, Pollux is the closest giant star to our solar system. It's one of the very few giant stars in our galaxy known to have a planet.

Castor is farther away, at 52 light-years. It looks like a single star to the eye, but it's actually six stars in one, all revolving around one another in an intricate dance.

With binoculars, you might be able to discern Castor and Pollux's contrasting colors. Pollux looks orange, while Castor appears white. An orange star has a relatively low surface temperature, indicating that Pollux is in the autumn of its years. On the other hand, a more youthful star - like Castor - displays a white color, a sure sign of this star's higher surface temperature.

Meanwhile, tonight's moon is in a waxing crescent phase. It'll continue to wax larger until full moon in early June. Mark your calendar: this June 2012 full moon will feature a partial lunar eclipse. It'll be visible throughout the Americas and Asia.

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