On Tuesday morning, the moon appeared at the far "right" of a Mars-Saturn-Jupiter string. (Photo by Joe Guzman)
Here’s a reason to set the alarm clock to “ridiculously early” this week: The moon will align with three bright morning planets — Mars, Saturn and Jupiter — in the pre-dawn hours.
During this celestial “conjunction,” the waning moon will slide into a different position each morning relative to the planetary lineup.
On Tuesday, astronomer Joe Guzman captured the conjunction with the moon at the far “right” of a Mars-Saturn-Jupiter string. By Friday, the moon’s orbital motion will bring it “left” of the same order of planets.
Mars will appear reddish, Saturn slightly yellow and Jupiter bright white, according to Guzman. The best time for viewing is 5-5:30 a.m. each day through Friday, he said.
Joe Guzman, aka the "Chicago Astronomer," illustrates the progression of the planet-moon conjunction. (Joe Guzman) Joe Guzman, aka the "Chicago Astronomer," illustrates the progression of the planet-moon conjunction. (Joe Guzman) Joe Guzman, aka the "Chicago Astronomer," illustrates the progression of the planet-moon conjunction. (Joe Guzman) Joe Guzman, aka the "Chicago Astronomer," illustrates the progression of the planet-moon conjunction. (Joe Guzman) Joe Guzman, aka the "Chicago Astronomer," illustrates the progression of the planet-moon conjunction. (Joe Guzman)
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