As we’re approaching the summer solstice, I’m going to harden my heart to the fact that it won’t be getting nice and dark until, like, ten where I’m at. What are you guys going to be looking for tonight? If you’re not going out, do you have any recommendations?

I’m largely going to be focused on the easterly sky. I’d like to try and spot some of the targets near Antares if my neighbor’s tree plays nice with me. Otherwise, I’m mostly going to be hitting the globular clusters that are going to be visible in and around Hercules. I’m also going to take some time to soak up some photons from Epsilon Lyra. If I’ve got time, I may try to run down some of the planetary nebulas and emission/reflection nebulas that will become visible to me later in the night.

It’s a really great time to be out and looking at globular clusters, if you can deal with the late start, and with our view into the heart of the galaxy on the rise, it’s only going to get better through the summer.

Happy stargazing!