Crescent Moon with Saturn and Neptune (pre-dawn)

On Thursday morning, May 22, the pretty, waning crescent moon will begin its monthly cruise past the planets gathered above the eastern horizon. The moon will rise in the east during the wee hours of the morning. About 20 minutes later, the prominent, yellowish dot of Saturn will become visible several finger widths to the moon’s lower left (to its celestial east). The duo will share the view in binoculars (orange circle) while the morning sky brightens ahead of sunrise. The tiny blue speck of the distant planet Neptune will be positioned a generous thumb’s width to Saturn’s left (or 2 degrees to the celestial northeast), but it will be a challenge to see from mid-northern latitudes, where the slope of the ecliptic will keep the planets lower in the hazy sky. Early-rising skywatchers at southern latitudes, where the planets will be higher in a darker sky, will have a better view of the conjunction.