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Eastern Hemisphere - Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand - you'll see the moon closer to the Pleiades. But no matter where you live worldwide, look for tonight's moon to shine in the vicinity of the this cluster of stars, Aldebaran and the dazzling planet Jupiter.
• At mid-northern latitudes, the waning gibbous moon, the Pleiades cluster and Jupiter all rise above the eastern horizon by early to mid-evening. As seen from the Southern Hemisphere, the threesome also rises in the eastern sky, but later at night. After they rise, watch Jupiter chase the moon and Pleiades westward across the sky for rest of the night.
• Tonight's lunar glare might make it difficult to see Aldebaran, the constellation Taurus' brightest star, and even more difficult to view the Pleiades. If you have binoculars, use them to see the ruddy color of this star, and to get an eyeful of the Pleiades cluster. Its brightest stars form a unique dipper-shape pattern that makes the Pleiades - or Seven Sisters - instantly recognizable to the unaided eye or in binoculars. Once you see this starlit dipper of stars, you'll see why this cluster is one of the most beloved sights in all the heavens.
• As for the giant planet Jupiter, it shines so brilliantly that it can be seen from the heart of light-polluted cities. You'll have no trouble spotting it after it rises tonight. Although Aldebaran ranks as a first-magnitude star, Jupiter outshines Aldebaran by (Continued on page 19)
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