On the mornings of 20 and 21 August 2025, the thin crescent Moon is part of a beautiful cluster of Solar System bodies visible on the eastern horizon.
The Moon joins Mercury, Venus and Jupiter low in the sky before sunrise, making for quite a celestial spectacle.
Here, we'll show you where to look and when, to see the Moon join the morning planets.
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Pre-dawn planets
Anyone who's been observing the planets of the Solar System over the past few weeks will be more than aware that the timing isn't ideal!
The good news is that Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible with the naked eye at the moment.
But the unfortunate news is they're only visible in the hours before sunrise which, in the middle of August, isn't the most relishing prospect.
An early start and a clear, flat, eastern horizon is required to see Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in August 2025, but if you can manage it, they'll look spectacular in the pre-dawn sky.
This is also where a bit of safety advice is required. In order to see the planets, you'll have to look at the eastern horizon before sunrise.
And because the Sun rises in the east, you should make sure to only observe well before sunrise.
Catching a glimpse of the Sun with your naked eye could damage your eyesight.
That being said, let's look at how to see the Moon and planets over the next two mornings.
20 August
We're in for a treat on the morning of 20 August 2025, because the crescent Moon will form a triangle with Venus and Jupiter.
Look to the east before sunrise (around 4am or 5am, depending on your location), and you should be able to see the three bodies in the sky.
The Moon is to the left of Jupiter, and Venus is below them both, forming the triangle.
If your horizon is really flat and clear of trees or tall buildings, you may be able to spot Mercury too, right on the horizon, before it's swallowed by glare from the rising Sun.
Can you spot two bright stars to the left of the triangle as well? Those are Castor and Pollux, the twin stars of Gemini.
21 August
This morning, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all rise at the same time and in the same location as the previous morning.
The Moon, however, has moved further east and is now a very thin crescent.
Remember this month's Sturgeon Moon? Since then, the Moon has been waning and is now very close to new Moon, when it's between the Sun and Earth and therefore not visible.
In the days leading up to new Moon, the lit portion of the Earth-facing side of the Moon is a very thin crescent, and can be tricky to see.
Now the Moon is thinner and closer to the horizon, it will be harder to see, but if you can see it, you'll spot that it's just above the planet Mercury.
Mercury and the Moon almost form a straight line with the stars Castor and Pollux, while the planets Venus and Jupiter are there to the right.
Share your planet observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
