Astronomy Essentials

Venus, Mercury and the moon!

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August 5, 2016

Photo taken August 4, 2016 by Yuri Beletsky in Chile's Atacama Desert. — Venus (bottom), the moon and Mercury captured August 4, 2016 by Yuri Beletsky in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

On two evenings this week – August 3 and 4, 2016 – people around the world had a chance to see something really special. The very young moon was near two planets extremely low in the west after sunset, Mercury and Venus. What could be more beautiful? Yuri Beletsky works as an astronomer for the Carnegie Institution for Science, whose giant Magellan Telescopes are located at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. He’s also a wonderful sky photographer. Enjoy his photos of the planets! Of the photo above, he wrote:

.. we were so lucky to witness truly amazing scene, the moon and Mercury in close dance just above bright Venus soon after the sunset. I took an image and you can see how close Mercury actually was to the moon.

At some point I also noticed a stripe of light clouds passing by, and I waited few moments until it crossed the moon, producing some nice reflection.

I hope you will enjoy the view!

Thanks so much, Yuri!

Visit Yuri Beletsky Nightscapes on Facebook.

Bottom line: Venus, Mercury and the moon as seen on August 3 and 4, 2016 from Chile.

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August 5, 2016

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Astronomy Essentials

Deborah Byrd

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Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.