Witness the Moon Aligning with Mercury, Venus, and Mars in the Early Morning Sky.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the moon will rendezvous with three proximate celestial companions in our solar system.
A slender crescent moon, radiating less than 5% luminosity, will grace the celestial canvas adjacent to Mercury, Mars, and Venus. Among these planetary counterparts, Venus will exude the most brilliance, casting its luminosity during its present phase of morning visibility. Mars, comparatively subdued, might necessitate the aid of binoculars for discernment near the morning twilight horizon. Meanwhile, Mercury, boasting a brightness of approximately magnitude 0, will gleam prominently, potentially observable without optical assistance in regions characterized by minimal light pollution and an unobstructed, flat horizon.
Venus shall ascend first, becoming discernible around 2.5 hours preceding sunrise. Gaze toward the southeast to spot the pale golden planet illuminating the early morning firmament. Following suit, Mercury and the moon will ascend roughly an hour later, with Mercury positioning itself above and to the left of the lunar presence. Mars, bringing up the rear, will rise above the horizon approximately thirty minutes before sunrise. Should you choose to employ binoculars or a telescope to witness this planetary trio alongside the moon, exercise caution to avoid looking in the sun's direction, whether through optical devices or unaided vision?
Cross-reference sunrise schedules in your locality to preemptively avert ocular harm while endeavoring to focus on these celestial bodies on Tuesday morning, as they align closely with the sun's rising trajectory.
On Monday (Jan. 8), Mercury will attain its zenith in the morning sky, elevating about 16 degrees above the southeastern expanse (equivalent to roughly ten degrees per your fist at arm's length). Simultaneously, the innermost planet will achieve its maximum separation from the sun, denoted as its "greatest elongation." This week, therefore, presents an opportune moment to venture out early and attempt to glimpse this elusive planet, visible only for a few weeks each year during its elongation peaks.
Mars, on the other hand, remains somewhat evasive during this season, never ascending significantly above the horizon. In fact, on Tuesday (Jan. 9), it will hover at less than ten degrees above the horizon, posing a challenge for observation in numerous locations.
Venus, in its unmistakable brilliance, will continue to be a morning beacon until vanishing from southern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere's skies around May 2024, only to re-emerge as an evening spectacle in June 2024.
For those aspiring to witness the moon and planets in the nocturnal expanse, our recommendations for premier telescopes and binoculars serve as a valuable starting point.
Should your aspirations include capturing imagery of these celestial entities or the night sky in general, peruse our guide on lunar photography, and planetary photography, along with our top choices for astrophotography cameras and lenses.