Despite skies beginning to flush with dawn, the three stars of the Summer Triangle will be visible edging toward the western horizon between 4 and 5 am.  Vega, on the right, is the brightest of the three.  Altair, on the left and a little lower, is slightly fainter, and Deneb, above and center, is imperceptibly fainter than Altair.

Around that time, some bright planets will be peeking over the eastern hills.  The color of one is due to its vast cloud cover; the other's distinctive hue is the color of its desert sands.

Jupiter should be instantly recognizable, not only for its silver color, but for its brilliance.  The red color of Mars just to the left of Jupiter would be a sharp contrast, but with Jupiter shining 25 times brighter, Mars will play second fiddle in the morning recital.  Binoculars will show the color contrast more clearly, and will bring out Jupiter's larger moons as well.

Over the coming weeks, Jupiter will climb high above Mars and Mercury will rise below them.  Mercury will remain low in the morning sky and, only half as bright as Mars, will be the most difficult of the three to find.

Try looking for them on the morning of Sunday, August 4, when the three morning planets will stretch up in a nearly straight line and a golden crescent moon will rise beside them.  A meadowlark's song, the rattle of a downy woodpecker, and the chirp of a cricket would complete a perfect morning.

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