A rare celestial grouping will be visible in Czechia's pre-dawn sky this week

Stargazers in the Czech Republic will be treated to a rare celestial event over the next two mornings as a series of planets, the Moon, and star clusters align in the pre-dawn sky, according to astronomers.

On Tuesday, July 30, and Wednesday, July 31, the Moon will rise close to the Pleiades star cluster, with the planet Uranus visible nearby through a small telescope, followed by the appearance of the bright planets Mars and Jupiter in the Hyades star cluster, astronomer Petr Horálek from the Institute of Physics in Opava told the Czech News Agency (ČTK).

“After midnight on Tuesday, the Moon will rise very close to the Pleiades star cluster. About five degrees southwest of the Earth’s only natural satellite, it will be possible to observe the planet Uranus with the help of a small telescope; later, bright Mars and even more prominent Jupiter will appear,” Horálek said.

On Wednesday, the celestial grouping will become even more impressive, with the Moon, Jupiter, and Mars forming a triangle in the northeastern sky.

“Together with both star clusters, it will be an even more beautiful sight because the Moon will be weaker compared to Tuesday’s situation, its crescent will be narrower, and we will see more stars in the dark sky and also the ashen glow of the Moon on its part not directly illuminated by the Sun,” Horálek explained.

The optimal time to view the celestial display will be shortly before dawn, though the grouping will be visible low on the horizon as early as an hour after midnight.