Crescent Moon Ends 4-Night Meeting With Venus and Jupiter as June 9 Conjunction Nears
Updated
Updated · Sky at Night Magazine · May 18
Crescent Moon Ends 4-Night Meeting With Venus and Jupiter as June 9 Conjunction Nears
4 articles · Updated · Sky at Night Magazine · May 18
May 21 marks the end of a four-night naked-eye pairing in which the crescent Moon moved from Venus on May 18 to Jupiter on May 20 before shifting farther east.
The changing view came from the Moon’s faster eastward motion after sunset, while Venus stayed low in the western horizon and Jupiter remained higher above it.
May 19 delivered the clearest three-body scene, with the Moon between Venus and Jupiter in a traditional astronomical “massing” visible in early evening western skies.
Attention now shifts to Venus and Jupiter themselves, which keep drawing closer and are due to reach conjunction on June 9.
The Moon will keep waxing until May 31, when it reaches a second full Moon of the month — a monthly blue Moon.
Can your smartphone truly capture this planetary trio? What's the one simple trick for a perfect photo?
Beyond Venus and Jupiter, what other hidden celestial gems can be spotted nearby with a basic telescope?
Are planetary alignments like this weekend's truly rare, or just a beautiful cosmic dance we often miss?