Once Again, early morning action as the crescent Moon visites two bright planets (2 Mar-3 Mar)

Morning  sky on Saturday, March 2 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:35 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). At this time Saturn and the crescent Moon are close. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).	Morning  sky on Sunday, March 3 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:37 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). At this time Venus and the crescent Moon are close. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).

The astronomical action is in the morning sky over the next two mornings (Saturday 2 March and Sunday 3 March)  as the thin crescent Moon visits Saturn and Venus in turn. In  both cases the Moon is less than a finger-width from the bright planets, and viewable in binoculars and wide-field telescope eye pieces. However at this magnification neither Saturn or Venus will be spectacular, but it will be interesting to see them together.

Sunday will also be a good time to view Venus in the daylight. Once you have located the Moon and venus in the twilight, watch as sunrise progresses, using safe solar technique (ie have the sun always hidden by a large object such as a building, never tlook directly at the sun), and use the Moon to guide you to Venus. it may take a while for Venus to "pop out" but once you see it you can locate it again. My guides to observing Venus in the daylight are here.

Approximate wide field telescope view of  Venus and the crescent Moon on Saturday, March 2 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:35 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). The field of view is approximately that of a 25mm eyepiece on a 4" Newtonian reflector. Venus and the Moon are approximately 57 minutes of arc from each other (just over two lunar diameters, click to embiggen) Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time using wide-field eyepieces (90 minutes before sunrise).

Approximate wide field telescope view of  Venus and the crescent Moon on Sunday, March 3 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:37 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). The field of view is approximately that of a 25mm eyepiece on a 4" Newtonian reflector. Venus and the Moon are approximately 43 minutes of arc from each other (approximately two lunar diameters, click to embiggen) Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time using widefield eyepieces (90 minutes before sunrise).