young moon | EarthSky

A chart of the night sky on May 9 just after sunset, with stars Pollux, Castor, Capella, Procyon, Betelgeuse, and Aldebaran glowing brightly with the crescent moon slightly north of the horizon.

Tonight’s young moon emerges into the evening sky

The young moon will compete in brightness with several bright stars on the evening of May 9, 2024. Which will shine most brightly?

Photos of the moon for each month of 2023 and annotations for the date and illumination. All of them are very thin moons.

See a year of young moons in this photo composite

A young moon is when a thin crescent appears in the evening sky just after new moon. Enjoy this beautiful composite image of the 12 young moons of 2023.

Slim crescent moon, dark horizon, twilight sky.

Young moon on April 20: Will you see it under a day old?

Occasionally you get the chance to look for a very young moon, less than 24 hours old. Those in North America, may see one just after sunset on April 20.

Young moon, Venus, Spica: A chart showing them all on August 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2021.

Young moon, Venus, Spica west after sunset on August 9 to 13

A beautiful week for moon-watching ahead. Look west after sunset. Watch for the young moon, Venus, Spica on August 9 to 13, 2021.

Young moon sweeps by Venus, Mars and Regulus in the July evening sky.

Young moon returns July 11, Venus and Mars conjunction

The Venus and Mars conjunction in the evening sky will be best around July 12 or July 13. The young moon will join them in the western twilight sky.

Chart of the young moon and the 2 evening planets, Venus and Mars.

Young moon, Venus, Mars after sunset mid-June

These next several evenings - June 11, 12 and 13, 2021 - watch for the young moon to return to the evening sky. As viewed from North America, the slender crescent pairs up with Venus on June 11 and Mars on June 13. Enjoy!

Crescent moon, 2 labeled dots (Mercury and Venus) in blue and orange sky over a lighted suspension bridge.

Photos: Young moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars

The brightest planet Venus has now returned to the evening sky, joining Mercury. It'll surprise you by appearing so bright, low in the western twilight. The moon swept past Venus Wednesday and Mercury Thursday ... this weekend, Mars!

Young waxing crescent moon adorns the March evening twilight.

Young moon after sunset March 14-17, 2021

These next several days - March 14-17, 2021 - look westward after sunset to get an eyeful of the young, slender waxing crescent moon adorning the evening twilight.

Young moon traveling along steep ecliptic in the February 2021 evening sky.

See the young moon on February 12, 13 and 14

Beginning on February 12, look west after sunset for the young moon - a thin lunar crescent - in the west shortly after sunset.

Young moon and Mercury adorn January evening twilight

Young moon and Mercury in mid-January 2021

These next several days - January 14, 15 and 16, 2021 - you can spot the waxing crescent moon and innermost planet Mercury, near the sunset point.

Waxing crescent moon swings by two bright planets, Jupiter and Saturn.

Young moon, Jupiter, Saturn glorious December 15 to 18!

The 2 bright shining objects near the moon - December 15 to 18, 2020 - will be Jupiter and Saturn. These 2 giant planets are now nearing their great conjunction on December 21. Don't miss this!

Waxing crescent moon with the gas giant planets Jupiter and Saturn.

November’s young moon and December’s Jupiter-Saturn conjunction

As darkness falls on November 18-21, 2020, use the moon to locate Jupiter and Saturn. Their conjunction will be December 21. Watch into December as these 2 giant worlds draw close!

Young moon and the planets Jupiter and Saturn at dsuk/nightfall in November 2020.

Young moon at dusk; meteors after midnight

On November 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2020, enjoy the beautiful presence of a waxing crescent moon covered over in earthshine in the west after sunset. Then, after midnight, watch for meteors in the annual Leonid meteor shower.

Favorite photos of October’s young moon

In the past few days, several EarthSky Community members around the world shared their photos of the young moon, a thin crescent in the west after sunset. Beautiful! Thanks to all who contributed.