Arcturus is the brightest star north of the celestial equator. Near the handle of the Big Dipper, it's easy to find in spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
On April 8 and, 9, 2022, you'll find the a 1st-quarter moon near Castor and Pollux, the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini the Twins. Also nearby is Procyon, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor the Lesser Dog.
Blue-white Rigel shines as the brightest star in the constellation Orion the Hunter. It's a hot massive star in the latter stages of its stellar evolution.
The Dog Star, Sirius, is easy to spot because it's the sky's brightest star. Procyon - the other Dog Star - is near its brighter brother on the sky's dome.
Shireen Gonzaga is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about natural history. She is also a technical editor at an astronomical observatory where she works on documentation for astronomers. Shireen has many interests and hobbies related to the natural world. She lives in Cockeysville, Maryland.