Those rising early Friday morning, before sunrise, will discover the crescent moon low in the south-southeastern sky. The moon is in close proximity to the red planet Mars and the planet Saturn. The three celestial objects form an elongated triangle with the moon above. All three are in the constellation Sagittarius, one of the southern-most zodiac constellations.

Mars is brightening as it moves farther from the rising sun. The two planets appear about equal in brightness, but being red, Mars looks like a jewel. Mars will continue to brighten in the months ahead and eventually make it into our early evening sky. Mars will be in opposition, closest to the Earth in July.

Look again on Sunday morning and the moon appears on the otherside of Saturn, closer to the rising sun.

The two closest planets to the sun, Venus and Mercury, appear low in the southwestern sky after sunset. The two are low. Venus is the brighter of the two. Mercury is to the right of Venus. Look about a half hour after sunset. They will be visible for only a short time.