  | What's Up This Week? The final week of August brings a series of striking lunar encounters and a chance to explore the rainbow of star colors across the late-summer sky. Early in the week, the crescent moon glides past Mars and Spica low in the west after sunset. On Friday, look up and compare the hues of Antares, Arcturus, Vega, and more, each shining with its own stellar temperature. The weekend sees the moon return to Antares and then reach its second first quarter of the month, a perfect phase for examining lunar detail. Whether you're chasing planetary pairings or testing your eye for starlight colors, this week has something for you. Here's what to watch for this week. Clear skies, Daisy
Reference Editor, Space.com  | | (Starry Night) | Look low in the west about an hour after sunset to see the crescent moon shining near reddish Mars. Virgo's bright star Spica twinkles above them. The pair makes for a beautiful binocular target. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | | The moon shifts east to pass close to Spica, Virgo's brightest star. Mars lingers farther right. Use binoculars to catch the trio together, glowing low above the western horizon. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | Late August skies showcase stars of every color — blue-white Vega, Deneb, and Altair, golden Arcturus, and fiery red Antares. After midnight, watch yellow Capella rise in the northeast. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | At dusk, the moon shines near Antares, the red heart of Scorpius, in their second meeting this month. In parts of Antarctica and New Zealand, the moon will even occult the star. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | For the second time this month, the moon reaches first quarter, appearing half-lit on its eastern side. Evenings around this phase are ideal for spotting craters and mountains along the lunar terminator. | | | |
Moon Calendar The first quarter moon arrives on Sunday, Aug. 31, marking the second of the month, a "double" quarter phase. This phase is perfect for lunar observing, with shadows cast dramatically across the surface. Explore the rugged craters and mountain ranges along the terminator, where sunlight strikes at low angles and reveals incredible detail. Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase. | | | |
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