There is a beautiful alignment to watch out for in the morning sky this week, as the waning crescent moon heads towards the brilliant beacon of Venus and the seldom glimpsed, inner-most planet Mercury.
Adding to the scene is Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, the virgin. The chart shows the view looking east-south-east from London, at 6am GMT on 12 November. Mercury, Venus and Spica will be visible all week, with the moon edging ever closer as it wanes from view.
On 12 November, just 12.5% of the moon’s surface will be illuminated, making it a lovely crescent to observe in its own right. Venus will be unmistakably bright yet Mercury is always a challenge. Being the inner-most planet of the solar system, it never strays far from the sun, so find a viewing location that has a clear horizon.
From the southern hemisphere, Mercury is much harder to spot this time, but the moon and Venus will be visible, hugging the eastern horizon just before sunrise.
