TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001 -- LOOKING SOUTH AROUND 8 P.M. If you look in a clear evening sky tonight, you'll find a large and bright waxing gibbous moon. Now the moon appears slightly more than half illuminated. At this phase of the moon, the moon sets in the wee hours after midnight. If you have a dark country sky, where city lights aren't washing out your view of the heavens, tonight would be a good time to see for yourself how much brightness even a partially illuminated moon can add to the starry dome. Simply go outside this evening when the moon is still up -- then go outside in the wee hours or before dawn, when the moon is down. The difference is remarkable!
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