Crescent Moon Joins Planets Venus and Jupiter After Sunset This Week

Observers are encouraged to watch the western sky after sunset this week as a young crescent moon passes brightly shining Venus and then Jupiter over several evenings. A Forbes article provides further details on how to see this celestial event.

18 May, 05:00 — 18 May, 07:00

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Why this matters

The alignment of the crescent moon with bright planets like Venus and Jupiter offers a visually striking celestial event accessible to many observers. These conjunctions are predictable astronomical occurrences that provide opportunities for public engagement with astronomy and the night sky.

Key entitiesVenus Jupiter Crescent Moon

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The GuardianMostly Factual23d ago

Starwatch: A young crescent moon journeys past Venus and Jupiter

The slim arc of a two-day-old moon will pass Venus shining brightly Keep an eye on the western sky after sunset this week to watch a beautiful sequence unfold over several evenings. A young crescent moon moves first past Venus and then Jupiter, creating a chance to track the moon’s movement through its orbit around the Earth. The chart shows the view on 18 May looking west from London at 22.00. The moon will be just 2.4 days old, and just 6.2% of its visible surface will be illuminated. Close...

By Stuart Clark

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forbes23d ago