• Every Halloween - and a few days before and after - the brilliant star Arcturus sets at the same time and on the same spot on the western horizon as the summer sun. What's more, this star rises at the same time and at the same place on the eastern horizon as the sun does during the dog days of summer.
• However, if you live in the Southern

Hemisphere, you can't see Arcturus right now. South of the equator, Arcturus sets at the same time and on the same place on the horizon as the winter sun. In other words, Arcturus sets before the sun and rises after the sun at southerly latitudes at this time of year.
• In the Northern Hemisphere - around Halloween - this brilliant pumpkin-colored star playacts as the ghost of the summer sun.
• At mid-northern latitudes, Arcturus now sets about 2 hours after sunset and rises about 2 hours before sunrise.
• By watching this star in the October evening chill, you can envision the absent summer sun radiating its extra hours of sunlight. Not till after dark does this star set, an echo of long summer afternoons. Similarly, Arcturus rises in the east before dawn, a phantom reminder of early morning daybreaks.
• You can verify that you're looking at Arcturus once the Big Dipper comes out. Its handle always points to Arcturus.
• By the way, if you live as far north as Barrow, Alaska, the star Arcturus shines all night long, mimicking the midnight sun of summer.