A Starry Night in the Southern Sky

Tonight at 10 P.M. local daylight time, the southern sky is set to dazzle with the constellation Coma Berenices. Look up and you'll find it gracefully positioned to the upper right of the glowing star Arcturus in the Bootes constellation and charmingly left of Denebola, the tail star of Leo the Lion.

The Hidden Gem: Coma Cluster of Galaxies

While Coma Berenices may seem unassuming at first glance, it conceals a breathtaking treasure: the Coma Cluster. This dense assembly of over 1,000 galaxies sprawls across a mere 4 degrees of the sky. For the best celestial views, gazers are advised to focus on the inner 0.5 degrees, where an extraordinary tapestry of galaxies can be spotted.

Your Guide to the Cosmic Splendor

To uncover the Coma Cluster, direct your gaze about 2.7 degrees west of the magnitude 4.2 Beta Comae Berenices. The brilliance of magnitude 11.5 NGC 4884 (also known as NGC 4889) shines as the cluster's standout galaxy. Nearby, you can find the similarly radiant NGC 4874, at magnitude 11.7, just 7 arcminutes west of its glowing neighbor. Don't miss the striking NGC 4793, gleaming at magnitude 11.6, resting about 1.5 degrees northwest of the duo.

Tonight's Celestial Schedule

Plan your evening under the stars! Here’s the astronomical timing for your location: - **Sunrise:** 5:44 A.M. - **Sunset:** 8:10 P.M. - **Moonset:** 8:15 A.M. - **Moon Phase:** Waning gibbous (85% illumination)