The crescent moon appears near the ringed planet Saturn Friday low in the southern sky. If you’ve never seen Saturn, here is one of the best guides you can use. The moon will show you the way to Saturn.

Years ago, a dear friend told us the moon was his favorite object in astronomy.

We asked him why.

He said: “I can find it.”

Venus and Jupiter are easy planets to spot. Their brilliance among the stars is significant. Saturn resides in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius, one of the southernmost constellations in the zodiac. It is near the bright red star Antares, the principal star in that constellation.

Saturday night, the moon, having moved along the zodiac and near first quarter phase, appears above Antares. The moon is first quarter on Sunday night.

Mark your calendar for a lunar eclipse later this month. The Harvest Moon, a full moon, will enter the earth’s shadow on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 27. The timing couldn’t be better. Mid-eclipse is at 10:48 p.m. The moon will start entering the Earth’s shadow at close to 9 p.m.