Next time you spy the Big Dipper, keep in mind that there is another star, invisible to the unaided eye, contributing to this constellation.

Last week, the Hubble Space Telescope passed near the night sky's brightest star, and this week a hunk of space flotsam will pass directly in front of it. The rocket body used to launch the French surveillance satellite known as Helios 1A nearly 10 years ago will rise in the south at 7:52:51 p.m.

Today: Venus is closing in on Mars. Tomorrow morning before dawn they are 4 degrees (half a fist) apart, with Mars to the lower left of Venus. The two planets are also approaching Alpha in Libra, a 3rd- magnitude star 3 degrees to Mars' lower left.

SKY SPY Two guys in a big, shiny contraption 250 miles above the Earth provide an ideal after-dinner treat tonight and Saturday night. The International Space Station will make two bright passes overhead this week, both originating from the Big Dipper and both easily visible with the naked eye.

SKY SPY New moon means little-to-no moon to wash out stars with its glare this week, affording an ideal opportunity to see if you'd have cut muster with an ancient Arabian army.