In that critically short moment of dawn, an hour before sunrise, the planets Jupiter and Mars appear as a pair. They aren’t as close as they were a week ago, but still a sight. Jupiter is significantly brighter than Mars. If you can find Jupiter, you’ll see the red planet Mars under and to the left.

Then look below the two planets for a third, Mercury.

Mercury is hard to see. The planet is only a short distance above the horizon. Give yourself a tap on your shoulder if you see it.

Mercury is at its greatest elongation next week, which means it is visually farthest from the sun and hopefully easiest to see. Mercury is the toughest visible planet to see, not because of its lack of brightness but because it is always so close to the horizon, either at dawn or dusk.

The ringed-planet Saturn is our evening planet. Saturn is in the southwestern sky after sunset and ideally placed near the bright star Spica, in the zodiacal constellation Virgo.

Spica is the blueish white star. Saturn has a yellowish, off-white color. When they are far apart, the differences between the two celestial objects is subtle. But since they are close together, viewers will be able to tell the difference. Saturn is to the left of Spica.