Those already out and about at 5am this week will be rewarded with a beautiful waning crescent moon approaching Jupiter, while Mars watches on from a little further away. The chart shows the view looking east from London at 5am on Tuesday. The waning moon will be easily visible with about 10% of its visible surface illuminated.
The brilliant beacon of Jupiter will be close by. The two are drawing together ahead of a conjunction later that day when the moon will pass less than a degree north of the giant planet. For comparison, the moon appears to be about half a degree wide in the sky.
Unfortunately, the conjunction itself takes place at 7.11pm, after both objects have set from the UK. The following morning offers another opportunity, with the moon now on the other side of Jupiter. Look upwards and to the west and the red planet will be identifiable because of its colour.
Mars lies in Gemini, while the moon and Jupiter are in neighbouring Cancer. From the southern hemisphere the pairing is also visible before dawn, with the moon and Jupiter generally appearing higher in the morning sky.
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