On September 19, skywatchers across the globe will be treated to a striking celestial alignment in the predawn sky, featuring a thin waning crescent moon, the planet Venus, and the bright star Regulus.
While observers in the United States will see the Moon rise in close proximity to Venus and Regulus, those in Europe, Canada, Greenland, and parts of Russia, Asia, and Africa will witness a lunar occultation, where the Moon passes directly in front of Venus, temporarily obscuring it.
To view the event, look toward the eastern horizon about two hours before dawn. The Moon, only 2% illuminated, will appear as a delicate sliver. Venus will shine brilliantly as a “morning star” less than one degree below the Moon, with Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, located nearby.
During this time, a faint glow may be visible on the Moon’s shadowed surface. This phenomenon, known as Earthshine or the Da Vinci glow, is caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth and is most prominent during crescent moon phases.
The morning sky will also feature Jupiter, which can be found shining high above the eastern horizon to the upper right of the Moon. The gas giant will be situated in the constellation Gemini, near its two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux.
The occultation of Venus will begin globally at 6:34 a.m. ET (1034 GMT) and end at 10:26 a.m. ET (1426 GMT).
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