Today:
The early morning skies are getting crowded! From 4 to 5 o’clock, the waning Crescent Moon presides one quarter of the way up in the east, above Jupiter to its lower left, and the even brighter Venus, farther to the lower left. To the left of the planets, the twin stars of Gemini are returning to the skies, while, well to the right, the winter champion, Orion, makes his first appearance in the pre-dawn hours.

Tuesday:
Early risers tomorrow morning are treated to a thinning Crecent Moon surrounded by celestial treasures. Immediately left of the Moon is Pollux, the lower of the twin stars of Gemini, with the other, Castor, above. Venus glows brightly to the Moon’s lower right, with Jupiter higher and more to the right. By 5 o’clock, in the blush of twilight, Mercury appears low, not to be mistaken for the star Procyon, much more to the right.

Wednesday:
Low in the east-northeast, tomorrow morning holds a curious view for early risers. A thin Crescent Moon will rise above the horizon at around 4:15 AM. Twenty minutes later, the planet Mercury will do the same, appearing just below the moon. Their best view comes from 5 to 5:15, with Mercury about a hand-width above a level horizon, fading in the growing twiight.