Overview
- Skywatchers caught the trio before sunrise Thursday, May 14, during a tight window of roughly 45 to 60 minutes low in the eastern sky.
- The moon was a slim waning crescent near 8% illumination, and all three objects sat under 20 degrees above the horizon, favoring an unobstructed view.
- Neptune sat in the same area about 10 degrees from the crescent, yet it stayed out of sight to the naked eye in the brightening dawn.
- Experts warned against using binoculars or telescopes near sunrise because a brief, magnified look at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage.
- Next up are darker nights with the new moon on Saturday, then a post‑sunset sequence as a thin crescent passes Venus and Jupiter ahead of their close approach on June 9–11.