Overview

• The multi-week alignment that began around August 10 remains visible an hour before sunrise, with Venus and Jupiter separating to about two degrees by August 15.
• Mercury now appears roughly 45 minutes before sunrise, reaching its greatest elongation on August 19 and remaining in view until around August 26.
• A waning crescent Moon is set to curve into the grouping on August 19–20, creating a bright pre-dawn trio with Venus and Jupiter.
• Saturn shines separately in the southern sky while Uranus and Neptune sit along the same ecliptic line but require binoculars or a small telescope for detection.
• Optimal viewing requires a clear eastern horizon and low light pollution, with the best observations about 60 minutes before sunrise.