Monday, February 17Mars rises before 4 a.m. local time and climbs 20 above the southeastern horizon an hour before the Sun comes up. Glowing at magnitude 1.2 against the fainter background stars of Sagittarius the Archer, the ruddy world stands out nicely in the predawn darkness. But the real reason you should target Mars through binoculars or a telescope this morning is because of the company it keeps: The Red Planet passes between two of the Milky Ways finest star-forming regions, the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20). These two Messier objects lie just 1.4 apart and will make a marvelous backdrop for astroimagers. Unfortunately, a telescope doesnt add much to our view of Mars, revealing a bland disk that measures just 5" across.

Tuesday, February 18As spectacular as Mars passage between M8 and M20 yesterday was, this morning holds even more drama for observers in the western two-thirds of North America. Shortly before dawn, the waning crescent Moon slides in front of the Red Planet in a stunning occultation. You can view this event with your naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope reveal far more detail. Use a scope if you want to watch Mars fade away as Lunas bright limb gradually overtakes it. Depending on your location, the Moon can take up to 15 seconds to completely cover the planets featureless disk. The occultation occurs earlier the farther west you live. Although Mars has already disappeared by the time the two objects rise along the West Coast, observers there can witness the planets equally stunning reemergence from behind the Moons dark limb. Those in the mountain states get to view the disappearance against a dark sky, while Midwesterners see the same event during twilight. Unfortunately, East Coast skygazers miss out because the occultation occurs after the Sun rises. Even so, theyll enjoy a beautiful close conjunction between the two objects before dawn.

Wednesday, February 19Less than an hour after Mars rises, Jupiter pokes above the southeastern horizon. Theres no mistaking the giant planet for any other object at magnitude 1.9, it is by far the brightest point of light in the morning sky. The waning crescent Moon forms a pretty pair with Jupiter this morning, appearing just 4 to the planets right.

Thursday, February 20The Moon moves eastward an average of 13 relative to the background stars each day. That motion carries it into western Sagittarius this morning, where it lies just 2.5 to the lower right of Saturn. The two rise shortly after 5 a.m. local time and appear impressive as twilight starts to brighten the sky. The ringed planet glows at magnitude 0.6, 10 times fainter than its brilliant neighbor, Jupiter.

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The Sky This Week from February 14 to 23 - Astronomy Magazine