View many more moon and Venus photos at EarthSky Community Photos.
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Peter Lowenstein wrote from Mutare, Zimbabwe: “During the past week Venus has been at maximum brightness , the star Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster have been joined by the young moon. The moon appeared close to the horizon an hour after sunset on April 24 and has risen higher in the evening sky each day since then. This spectacular mosaic – which contains pictures taken at about a quarter past six each evening on April 20 [top left], 24 [top right], 25 [bottom left] and 26 [bottom right] – shows this happening in a sky tinted magenta to purple by the presence of stratospheric aerosols reflecting late sunset twilight glow. A rare combination of celestial beauty!” Thank you, Peter!
View at EarthSky Community Photos . | Eliot Herman in Tucson, Arizona, caught the celestial triangle of the crescent moon, planet Venus and star Elnath in the constellation Taurus the Bull on April 26, 2020. He wrote: “It was a pretty evening here, just as Bruce stated in his Tonight .” Thank you, Eliot!
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | The young moon sets over Prague, Czech Republic, in this photo by John Laing , taken April 26, 2020. John wrote: “Waxing moon setting over Prague Castle – construction started in the 9th century … completed in 1929.” Thank you, John!
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Dr Ski in Valencia, Philippines, captured the young moon between a planet and a star on April 26. He wrote: “The waxing crescent moon is between Aldebaran and Venus tonight.” Thank you, Dr Ski.
View at EarthSky Community Photos . | Dr Ski in Valencia, Philippines, captured this image during the day, at around 2:30 in the afternoon on April 26, 2020. He wrote: “The 3 day old crescent moon transits the meridian with Venus in tow. Finding Venus in the daytime is easier when the moon is nearby. The 9% crescent is 25 times brighter than Venus. They are 8° apart in this image.” Thank you, Dr Ski.
View at EarthSky Community Photos . | Frank Lu in Arlington, Texas, caught thin clouds – and stars, the moon and a planet behind the clouds – in this 10-second exposure on April 25, 2020. He wrote: “The long exposure reveals a rush of clouds against the fixed universe, highlighted by the crescent moon and Venus. Also clearly visible is the belt of Orion and various prominent stars.” Thank you, Frank.
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Idriss Dhoparee caught the young moon with earthshine on April 25, 2020, from London, England. Idriss wrote: “Beautiful clear sky – earthshine moon and Aldebaran in conjunction.” Thank you, Idriss.
View at EarthSky Community Photos . | Astrophotographer Riste Spiroski of the Ohrid Astronomy Association in Ohrid, North Macedonia, said he caught the April 24, 2020, waxing crescent moon and Venus from his balcony. Thank you, Riste!
View at EarthSky Community Photos . | Fred Espenak captured the moon on April 24 and wrote: “The 2-day old crescent moon illuminated in Earthshine made a compelling sight as it set over Limestone Mountain (Portal, AZ). This time lapse captured the setting moon every 2.25 minutes.” Thank you, Fred.
Helio Vital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, caught the very slender young moon in a bright twilight sky on April 24, 2020. Thank you, Helio.
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Idriss Dhoparee caught the young moon from London, England, April 24, 2020. Idriss wrote: “Waxing crescent moon at 2.5% illumination. Rare catch considering the not so brilliant UK weather most of the time. We have had a long spell of sunshine. This moon in Islamic calender is the Ramadan, heralding a month of fasting.”
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Chuck Reinhart in Vincennes, Indiana, caught the young crescent moon on April 24, 2020. He wrote: “Shortly after sunset I was able to photograph the crescent moon. I had to act fast as the clouds were rolling in.” Thanks, Chuck.
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Mohamed Mohamed of Tripoli, Libya, captured the very young moon on April 24, 2020. Thanks, Mohamed!
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Kevin Rundle caught the young moon and Venus from Santee, California, on April 24, 2020, with an iPhone 7. Thanks, Kevin!
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | Peter Lowenstein caught the young moon and bright Venus from Mutare, Zimbabwe, on April 24, 2020. He wrote: “Venus and Aldebaran (top) with the Pleiades and young moon setting below at 6.15 pm. On Friday evening clear visibility and a cloudless sky promised to provide a perfect view of the young crescent moon (only 18 hours old) setting below the local horizon to the north of Christmas Pass. However sunset at a quarter past five was followed by the development of a large sunset stratospheric aerosol twilight arch which was so bright that it prevented the thin young moon from becoming clearly visible to the naked eye for almost three quarters of an hour. This left only twenty minutes to watch it setting. Just before it did I managed to capture this splendid image with planet Venus, stars and young moon present.” Thanks, Peter!
View larger at EarthSky Community Photos . | This is not the moon! Aurelian Neacsu zoomed in on the crescent planet Venus from Visina, Romania, on April 24. Aurelian wrote: “The brightest planet during daytime … Phase: 30%, 40 days before inferior conjunction.” Thanks, Aurelian.
Bottom line: The moon is sweeping past Venus on these late April 2020 evenings. The EarthSky Community is catching them, and sharing their photos. Thanks to all who submitted.
View many more moon and Venus photos at EarthSky Community Photos.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd 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. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. 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.