Saturn has been a popular planet for stargazers this month as it reaches its peak brightness on August 14, but astronomy fans' attention will turn to another easy-to-spot planet later this week.
Mars has been visible in the early morning sky for the past few months, including in June when it was part of a rare planetary alignment before dawn on June 24. Since then, Mars has brightened slightly and on Friday, August 19, it will be displayed alongside the Moon to create an eye-catching astronomical scene.
The two objects will be very close and difficult to miss in the early morning sky, if it is not cloudy, for people outside before dawn.
The celestial pair will rise around 1 a.m. local time on Friday and remain visible until sunrise.
A telescope is not needed to see the two shining side by side in a tight formation, but the two will be so close that people can see them in the same field through a telescope or binoculars.
There will also be some added bonuses for those who get up early enough to see the event.
Jupiter has been brightening in recent weeks and on Friday, August 19, it will appear to the right of Mars and the Moon Jupiter is one of the easiest planets to find because it usually outshines every star in the morning sky.
Additionally, just before morning twilight, the constellation Orion will be visible just above the eastern horizon.
Orion is one of the most popular constellations, but it is not visible throughout most of the summer because it is in the same region of the sky as the Sun. However, as the Earth continues its journey around the Sun, the constellation becomes visible again in the night sky.
The constellation will be a fleeting sight in the late summer sky, but will gradually become easier to see as it becomes a prominent constellation during the fall months and eventually winter.
If Friday morning is cloudy, people will see the moon and Mars again on Saturday morning, but the pair won't be nearly as close as they were on Friday.
Friday morning's celestial meeting is one of many conjunctions between Mars and the Moon in the night sky over the coming months. The Moon will cross Mars again on September 17 on the night of September 16, followed by another close encounter on the night of October 14 to October 15.
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