Starwatch: the moon passes Saturn in the dawn twilight

Earth's satellite and the ringed planet will be easily observable in the early hours

The moon passes Saturn this week. The chart shows the view looking south-east from London at 04:00 BST on the morning of 31 May 2024.

As the sky begins to fill with the dawn twilight, Earth's satellite and the ringed planet will rise to an easily observable altitude. By now, the moon is 22.6 days old, and has arrived at its last quarter phase with 45.6% of its visible surface illuminated. This puts it just into its waning crescent phase.