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Moon and three planets align before dawn Tuesday and Wednesday

Whatcom County early risers are in for a treat before dawn Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14-15, as the moon moves past a trio of planets that are close together.

Sky-watchers have been turning their eyes toward the southeast in the early hours as Jupiter, Saturn and Mars do a celestial dance that occurs every couple of years or so, according to astronomers at Space.com and Sky & Telescope.

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings this week, the waning quarter moon will join them for a bit.

Of course, the moon and planets aren’t that close in space — it only appears so from our vantage point on Earth

To see this phenomenon in Bellingham and Whatcom County, find a clear view of the southeast sky at 4 a.m. Tuesday and 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 40s are forecast both nights.

This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 1:34 PM.

Robert Mittendorf
The Bellingham Herald
Robert Mittendorf covers civic issues, weather, traffic and how people are coping with the high cost of housing for The Bellingham Herald. A journalist since 1984, he also served 22 years as a volunteer firefighter for South Whatcom Fire Authority before retiring in 2025.
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