Posted on 09/20/2025 12:14:15 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Early risers around planet Earth have enjoyed a shining crescent Moon near brilliant Venus, close to the eastern horizon in recent morning twilight skies. And yesterday, on September 19, skygazers watching from some locations in Earth's northern hemisphere were also able to witness Venus, in the inner planet's waxing gibbous phase, pass behind the Moon's waning crescent. In fact, this telescopic snapshot was taken moments before that occultation of gibbous Venus by the crescent Moon began. The close-up view of the beautiful celestial alignment records Venus approaching part of the Moon's sunlit edge in clear daytime skies from the Swiss Alps. Tomorrow, the Sun will pass behind a New Moon. But to witness that partial solar eclipse on September 21, skygazers will need to watch from locations in planet Earth's southern hemisphere.
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🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔
I saw the crescent moon in apparent close proximity, and remarked on it to my daughter.
That looks exactly like the spot I picked at on my blue car.
Need a touch up pen now.
That was an awesome sight, to see Venus and the moon so close...
One of my cars is a blue car too. It is my fastest car.
Wow.
Whenever the moon occludes Venus it is in crescent stage. Venus is never more than about 45 degrees away from the sun, and when the moon is within 45 degrees of the sun it is in crescent phase. At 90 degrees it is at quarter moon stage, first quarter or third quarter, and appears as a half moon. When the moon is opposite the sun, at 180 degrees, it is a full moon, which is the same as second quarter.
I didn’t see it but it reminds me of last winter’s occultation of Mars by the Moon. That one was nice.
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