Catch a Clear Sky When You Can

Clear nights are scattered about in a central Va. winter so catch a look when you can; tonight may cloud back up ahead of rain tomorrow with clear skies likely returning by week's end. The waning gibbous moon slides into Cancer tonight on its way to a Fri/Sat flyby of Mars which is rising earlier and earlier in the winter evenings. Jupiter dominates the SE sky after dark in Pisces and continues its march toward bright Venus in the SW, still in Capricorn (and near Neptune - with a close encounter with Uranus coming in February). The 3/4 moon will be near Saturn for late night viewers Monday.
Orion and the bright stars of winter make any clear night a good one to check out the winter sky. Bundle up and check it out.