This is the last of four articles this week, each examining a different compass direction in the night sky. Our tour guide is Starry Night Pro 4.5, the newest version of the leading astronomy software for night sky enthusiasts.

Western Sky Explanation below

The map shows the sky from mid-northern latitudes at 9 p.m. local time this week. The zenith is the point directly overhead. These stars are all a bit higher earlier in the evening, and the lower ones sink into the horizon shortly after 9 p.m.

If you go out after sunset, the stars that appear low on the horizon in the above map will be higher and easier to spot. Vega is the fifth brightest star in the sky. Compare it to Mars, which is still just a bit brighter.

The red planet, though far dimmer than it was in August, continues to dominate the southwestern evening sky. Mars' orange tint makes it easy to identify. From cities and suburbs, where light pollution drowns out faint stars, Mars sits practically alone, since there are no bright stars nearby.