In brief
On Saturday, November 7 the waning crescent moon, Venus, and the bright star Spica will align near the eastern horizon before sunrise, the Jeddah Astronomy Society said, offering an easily sighted natural spectacle. The trio’s proximity offers a striking demonstration of planetary motion, as Venus re‑enters the morning sky after October’s inferior conjunction. Observe from a horizon‑clear site 45 to 60 minutes before sunrise, and avoid telescopes without certified solar filters, the society warned.
The Jeddah Astronomy Society announced that on Saturday, November 7 the waning crescent moon, Venus and the bright star Spica will form a close alignment near the eastern to southeastern horizon before sunrise over the Arab world.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, Venus is gradually returning to the morning sky following its inferior conjunction with the Sun in late October. In the alignment predicted for that morning, Venus will appear roughly one degree from the Moon while the star Spica will be about two to two‑and‑a‑half degrees away.
The announcement came from Jeddah Astronomy Society President Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, who highlighted the event’s visibility to the naked eye and emphasized that it will be more dramatic from a location with a clear view of the horizon. He noted that the alignment will be best observed about 45 to 60 minutes before sunrise, when the three bodies will be close together.
Abu Zahra also cautioned that despite the appeal, pointing binoculars or telescopes toward the Sun without certified solar filters can be dangerous, even though the alignment itself is only apparent from Earth. The Saudi Press Agency stresses that observers should maintain safety practices and only view the sunrise indirectly when the Sun rises.0
The waning crescent moon will reach its new phase on November 9, according to the agency. The Society indicated that the near‑night passage of the new moon reduces the likelihood of a noticeable lunar presence on subsequent nights, but the Saturday alignment gives a clear and personal opportunity for stargazers to witness the converge of the trio.
Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, achieves a prominent position in the early morning sky, enhancing the spectacle of this celestial convergence. The Saudi Press Agency’s report underscores that observers can appreciate the event without specialized equipment, provided they observe from a horizon‑open setting and avoid uncontrolled viewings of the Sun.
