Topline
A “planet parade” is happening in the pre-dawn sky at the moment, with this weekend the perfect time to take a look as the moon shrinks to a crescent as it moves past some of the most spectacular sights in the night sky — the Pleiades star cluster and the bright stars of the constellations Taurus and Orion.
Illustration of the eight planets of the Solar System. From the Sun (top) outwards, the planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
getty
Key Facts
Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus are currently in the planet parade, but this weekend the waning gibbous moon joins the fray.
Venus will be visible in the east and Jupiter in the southeast, with Saturn in the southwest.
Over the weekend, the moon will pass close to the Pleiades open cluster of stars, also called M45, as it passes through the bright stars of the constellations Taurus and Orion.
This is the final notable planet parade until October 2028, when five planets will be visible together, once again before sunrise.
Before sunrise on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
Stellarium
The Moon And Planets This Week
Look southwest before sunrise on Friday, Sept. 12, for a 73%-lit moon shining alongside the Pleiades, one of the most beautiful naked-eye star clusters in the night sky. The following morning, on Saturday, Sept. 13, a 62%-lit moon will be on the other side of the Pleiades. On Sunday, Sept. 14, the moon will reach its last quarter phase, when 50% of its Earth-facing side is lit.
Before sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
Stellarium
The ‘planet Parade’ And The Pleiades
The Pleiades (pronounced ‘player-deeze’) is the most obvious star cluster to the naked eye in the night sky aside from the Big Dipper. It’s also more impressive. In contrast to the Big Dipper, the Pleiades (also called M45 and the “Seven Sisters”) is impossible to forget once you’ve identified it. A cluster of hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus, you’ll notice the brightness of the Pleiades in the corner of your eye. That’s because your peripheral vision is much more atuned to brightness than your direct vision.
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