• By around mid-evening, look for the exceptionally brilliant and huge Winter Circle to fill up the eastern portion of sky. This famous sky pattern isn't a constellation. It's an asterism: a noticeable

pattern on the sky's dome. In this case, the pattern is made of the brightest stars of winter, in many different con

stellations.
• From a dark sky, you'll see the Milky Way's hazy band of stars passing right through the Winter Circle. Look for it after the waxing crescent moon sets this evening.
• The southernmost and brightest star of the Winter Circle is Sirius. As seen from middle and far northern latitudes, it will be the last to rise tonight. Look for dazzling Sirius to sparkle wildly over the southeast horizon around 8 to 9 p.m.
• This year, the brightest stars of winter appear less brilliant, due to the fact that there's an even brighter planet joining the Winter Circle in 2012. This planet is Jupiter, by far the brightest star-like object in the evening sky now. Jupiter shines close to Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull. You'll find Jupiter and Aldebaran shining highest in the sky tonight at approximately 11 p.m. local time.
• Watch the blazing planet Jupiter and the Winter Circle stars march westward throughout the night. The Winter Circle will swing high into the southern sky by around midnight, and into the western sky before dawn. Jupiter and the western

most stars of the Winter Circle stars will set before dawn colors the sky.
• Starting tonight, watch for the Winter Circle and the planet Jupiter to adorn the winter evening sky for months to come!
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