Moon, Saturn & Mars on May 4-6

These next several mornings – May 4, 5 and 6, 2018 – bright moon will shine together with Saturn and Mars in the starry sky, the planets are as bright as 1st-magnitude stars, so you should have no trouble seeing them in the moon’s glare.

The only requirement (besides a clear sky) will be staying up very late, or to rise before the sun these next few mornings. Saturn and Mars will be the two brilliant “stars” near the moon.

Both Saturn and Mars are shining in front of the constellation Sagittarius the Archer right now. Saturn will stay within Sagittarius’ boundaries for the rest of the year, but Mars will soon enter the neighboring constellation to the east, Capricornus the Sea-goat.

However, the bright waning gibbous moon will be putting a damper on the pre-dawn Eta Aquariid meteor shower, if you’re an early bird, get up before dawn these next few days to see the moon, Saturn and Mars – and possibly, some of the brighter Eta Aquariid meteors in moonlight.