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On these cold wintry mornings it can often take a lot of effort or the promise of something good to drag us out of bed. On 27 November, nature will provide a beautiful sight that will reward the early risers: an exquisitely thin waning crescent moon will be sitting next to the bright star of Spica.
Spica is the 16th brightest star in the entire night sky and the brightest star in its constellation of Virgo, the virgin. The moon will have just 14% of its visible surface illuminated, and Spica will be shining a brilliant white light.
The moon will be almost 26 days into its lunar month, and will be visible just a day or so before disappearing into the sun’s glare to be reborn a day or so after that as a new moon.
The chart shows the view looking south-east from London at 0600 GMT on 27 November. Morning civil twilight will still be an hour away, with the sun finally rising at 0738 GMT.
From Sydney, Australia, the best view occurs around 0400 AEDT on 28 November. The moon and Spica will appear briefly above the eastern horizon before the encroaching daylight washes them from the sky.