Friday night, if the skies are clear, you’ve got a lot to see in the west, an hour after sunset.

This is the best time of year to take up astronomy as a hobby. Sit outside at night in an old beach chair and look up.

The brilliant planet Venus is making a comeback.

Friday night’s gibbous moon appears low in the southeastern sky after sunset. You’ll see it above the bright planet Saturn

A thin crescent moon appears Friday night near the bright planet Jupiter. The two are high in the western sky after sunset.

To stargazers, the Fourth of July evening will be a wonderful night.