Old Moon at Dawn

Old Moon at Dawn

The early morning sky this week features an old Moon fading each day into the sunrise, passing landmarks in our sky as it fades. The Moon follows a path across the sky that parallels the planets, so there are frequent encounters between the Moon and planets, and on the 25^th that features the planet Saturn, not positioned in the east before sunrise. Saturn is gradually moving from the constellation Libra into Scorpius over the next few years, but the Moon makes that same move across the sky in a few days, passing by the bright orange heart of the Scorpion, Antares, one of the biggest stars in the entire galaxy.

You will need a good eastern horizon to see the fullness of Scorpius and the Moon’s path on the 26^th and 27^thbut if you are up early you will have a treat seeing these bright objects shining in the morning darkness.