View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Here’s how it all began, with the moon poised above Jupiter, Venus and Mercury in a line (the plane of the solar system). The moon moved past these planets over several mornings over the past week. Roberto Burkle shared this image he captured from Playa del Carmen, Mexico, on August 19, 2025. The bright stars Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini, are nearby. So is the star Procyon, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor. Thank you, Roberto!
Over the past week, observers of the early morning eastern sky have witnessed the moon gracefully moving past a line of planets. Did you see them? It was a spectacular sight, as the waning moon moved past Jupiter, Venus and Mercury day by day. Mercury was kind of shy near the horizon, but didn’t want to miss the party. The constellations Gemini, with its bright stars Castor and Pollux, and Orion the Hunter, were a wonderful addition to this amazing show. And Uranus and Neptune were present too, but not visible to the unaided eye.
Enjoy this gallery from the past days and keep looking up! Have a good image of your own to share? Submit it here.
Morning planets parade: See the moon, planets and stars
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Adeel Shafiq in Punjab, Pakistan, captured this image on August 21, 2025, and wrote: “This morning’s sky over Lahore was a sight to behold, a cosmic canvas painted with the finest clarity of the season. A slender waning crescent moon gracefully ascended beside Venus, Jupiter and Mercury, while the twin stars Castor and Pollux shimmered nearby. The Beehive Cluster (M44) was also visible in my capture, completing this stellar arrangement.” Thank you!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Riste Spiroski took this wonderful photo on August 21, 2025, from Ohrid, Macedonia. Thank you, Riste!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Luis Valdes in Happy Valley, Oregon, took this photo on August 21, 2025, and wrote: “I knew from your website this was gonna be beautiful this am. I woke up a little late, but you can still see the moon and the 3 planets.” See Mercury low in the horizon? Very nice shot! Thank you, Luis!
The moon, planets and stars on August 20
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Marcy Curran in Cheyenne, Wyoming, shared this image of the moon, brilliant Venus, bright Jupiter, shy Mercury and the stars Castor and Pollux on the morning of August 20, 2025. She wrote: “When you’re awake at 5 a.m. why not go check out the morning sky? I was kind of surprised how much Venus and Jupiter have drifted apart in the last week. But I was happy to see Mercury above the morning twilight.” Thank you, Marcy!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Thomas Winterer in Excelsior, Minnesota, took this photo on August 20, 2025, and wrote: “Jupiter standing above the waning crescent moon and brilliant Venus below.” Thank you, Thomas!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Larry Isenberg in Ocala, Florida, took this closer look at the moon and Venus on August 20. 2025. What a bright, wonderful planet! Thank you, Larry!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Larry Isenberg also shared this full size view of the trio formed by the moon, Venus (bottom right) and Jupiter (top right) early in the morning on August 20, 2025. Thank you, Larry!
See more images from August 20
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe, shared this image with us and wrote: “The beauty of the accompanying pictures was enhanced by the presence of security light that illuminated the plants in my garden and the presence of bright stars including the red giant Betelgeuse and other stars of the Orion constellation above (top left image) and Castor and Pollux of the Gemini constellation below (bottom images).” Thank you, Peter!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Frank Lu took this photo from Arlington, Texas. Thank you, Frank!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Todd Walkingstick captured the triangle of the moon, Venus and Jupiter from Owatonna, Minnesota. Thank you, Todd!
Images from around the world
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Tameem Altameemi in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, shared this image and wrote: “In the early hours of August 20, 2025, skywatchers in the United Arab Emirates witnessed a beautiful celestial triangle formed by the waning crescent moon, Jupiter and Venus. This striking arrangement appeared just before dawn, at 04:38 local time, with the moon about 4.7° from Jupiter and 6.5° from Venus, while Jupiter and Venus were separated by 7.3°. Venus shone brilliantly as the ‘morning star’ while Jupiter stood higher above the horizon, accompanied by the delicate glow of the crescent moon.” Thank you, Tameem!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Amr Elsayed in Cairo, Egypt, took this photo on August 20, 2025, and wrote: “Built in 1961 in the form of the lotus flower — an important symbol for the ancient Egyptians — the Cairo Tower reflects Egypt’s timeless heritage. On this night, the crescent moon appears to its right, with Jupiter shining above and Venus glowing below, a rare and beautiful alignment of earth and sky.” Thank you!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Tom Tan in Melbourne, Australia, shared this image he captured on August 20, 2025, and wrote: “I saw Jupiter’s 3 moons in a line when I zoomed in but I had not thought of setting the focus on them. I hope you can see in this photo what I saw in the sky this morning because the eye can see better.” Thank you, Tom!
Moon, planets and stars on August 19
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Catherine Hyde in Cambria, California, photographed the moon, Jupiter and Venus over her fence on August 19, 2025. Thank you!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Bill Kozar in Taylorsville, Indiana, took this photo on Agust 19, 2025, and wrote: “Pictures just can’t compare to seeing the actual morning view this morning.” That’s so true! Thank you, Bill!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Bob DiCarlo in Mentor, Ohio, took this wonderful image on August 19, 2025, and wrote: “The moon, Jupiter and Venus put on a show this morning!” They really did! Thank you, Bob!
Bottom line: Have you seen the morning planets parade? The moon joined forces with brilliant Venus and bright Jupiter to put on a spectacular show. Mercury was shy near the horizon, but also visible. And Uranus and Neptune were present too, but not visible to the unaided eye.
Cristina Ortiz - based in Granada, Spain - is EarthSky's defender of animals with her "lifeform" videos at EarthSky YouTube. Discover the most fascinating facts about all the beings with whom we share Earth. Are you ready for the adventure? Cristina has been an EarthSky.org editor since 2021. She has a master’s degree in translation and interpreting, specializing in science and technology. "Since I was a kid," she says, "I could feel that passion for science and communication."
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