The early morning arrangement brings together brilliant Venus, the star Spica, and an extremely slim crescent moon illuminated across just 4% of its surface. Observers with clear views toward the east-south-east can also catch earthshine, a gentle glow cast across the moon's dark portion by reflected sunlight from Earth. While northern observers like those in London need an unobstructed low horizon around 0600 GMT, viewers in the southern hemisphere will enjoy the trio higher in the eastern sky before dawn.
Key points
Brilliant Venus will serve as the easiest of the three gathered celestial bodies to locat…: Brilliant Venus will serve as the easiest of the three gathered celestial bodies to locate.
Stargazers may spot earthshine illuminating the unlit section of the moon via light refle…: Stargazers may spot earthshine illuminating the unlit section of the moon via light reflected from Earth.
Skywatchers in the southern hemisphere can view the celestial grouping positioned higher…: Skywatchers in the southern hemisphere can view the celestial grouping positioned higher in the morning sky.
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Early risers have a beautiful sight to look forward to this week as brilliant Venus joins the waning crescent moon and the star Spica in the morning sky.
The chart shows the view looking east-south-east from London at 0600 GMT on 7 November. Venus will be the easiest object to identify, shining brilliantly. Next to it will be Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, the virgin, situated about 250 light years from Earth.
The tiny sliver of the waning moon completes the tableau. On this morning, the moon will be just two days away from new, with only 4% of its Earth-facing disc illuminated. It may also be possible to see the faint outline of its unlit portion, illuminated by sunlight reflected from Earth. This phenomenon is known as earthshine.
The three objects will form a striking grouping low above the horizon, so you will need a clear view towards the east-south-east to appreciate the spectacle. At 0600 GMT, the sky will still be relatively dark, although the approaching sunrise will gradually wash out the fainter stars.
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