The Moon, Mars, and Saturn line up: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

This week, early risers can look for Mars and Saturn on parade with a slim crescent Moon.

By David J. Eicher | Published: June 3, 2024

In this view at 4 a.m. EDT local time on May 31, Saturn lies just 0.4° from the Moon. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly

The waning Moon continues its journey through our skies this week, passing by a couple of bright planets: the red planet Mars and the ringed wonder Saturn. In the pre-dawn hours on June 4, look east and you’ll see a very slender crescent Moon — just 6 percent illuminated — with Mars and Saturn both glowing at around first magnitude. This pretty scene will make for a great wide-field photograph, and is ripe for further exploration with binoculars or a telescope.

To learn more about observing this month’s full planetary parade, check out the June 2024 edition of Sky This Month.