A thin crescent Moon appears in the evening sky, visible for a short time after sunset.
Look west about half an hour after sunset to catch the crescent Moon to the lower right of Mars, with Spica to the pair’s upper left. Credit: Stellarium/USGS/Celestia/Clementine
- A waxing crescent Moon (8% illuminated) will be observable in the western sky shortly after sunset.
- Mars (magnitude 1.6) will be visible approximately 7° to the upper left of the Moon, potentially earlier with optical aid, which may also reveal earthshine on the Moon.
- Arcturus, a bright star (magnitude -0.1), will be easily visible above the Moon and Mars as twilight fades.
- Provided times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, and Moon phase are specified, originating from 40° N 90° W.
Observers who are quick to step outside after sunset can catch a delicate crescent Moon sinking in the west, now just 8 percent lit as sunrise begins to creep over the lunar nearside.Â
Magnitude 1.6 Mars sits 7° to the upper left (east) of the Moon, slowly becoming visible as the sky darkens. You can catch it a little earlier if you search with binoculars or a telescope, which will likely also show earthshine on the Moon, as sunlight bounces off Earth and illuminates the regions of the Moon still in our planet’s shadow.
Above the trio, the bright magnitude –0.1 star Arcturus will quickly pop out of the twilight. This aging red giant is some 25 times the width of our Sun and more than 100 times as bright as our star; however, Arcturus has a much lower surface temperature than the Sun, as stars cool as they age.Â
Sunrise:Â 6:21 A.M.
Sunset:Â 7:42 P.M.
Moonrise:Â 8:45 A.M.
Moonset:Â 8:47 P.M.
Moon Phase:Â Waxing crescent (6%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.Â
