
Our friend Mohamed Laaifat Photographies captured the moon and Venus as seen in Normandy, France on February 26. Visit Mohamed Laaifat Photographies.

By the time dawn came to the western half of the U.S. this morning (February 26), the moon was below Venus. Even light pollution couldn’t diminish the view of them. Photo from our friend Christy Sanchez in Denver. Thanks, Christy.

Two crescents! A telescope revealed both the moon and Venus on February 26 to be in a crescent phase. Photo by our friend Kat Baker in northern Italy.

Moon and Venus seen from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on February 26, via our friend Zarita. Thank you, Zarita!

Andrew Ferguson in Elche, Spain said he was “walking the dogs, sleepy and slightly hungover” when he captured this shot. An eye-opener for sure! Thanks, Andrew.

Abhinav Singhai in India captured this photo of Venus and the moon on February 26. These are the sky’s two brightest nighttime objects, and they can be seen as dawn begins to break. See more photos by Abhinav Singhai.

The moon and Venus on February 26 as seen by Phillip Van Rooyen in South Africa. The orientation of the moon and Venus to the horizon appeared differently, depending on your location on the globe.

From parts of Africa, the moon occulted, or passed in front of Venus, on February 26. Morongoe Khantsi captured this view.

Liz Hawkins Romsey in the U.K. caught Venus and the moon on February 26, just as the dawn was breaking.

Brodin Alain was somewhat bothered by clouds in his area, but still captured this beautiful image of the pair on February 26.

Jordan Lye Photography captured the pair from Penang, Malaysia on February 26. Malaysia’s view was not as close as that farther west on February 26. Visit Jordan Lye Photography on Facebook.

Our friend Lakshmi Ravishankar in Pune, India captured the moon and Venus on February 26. At this point, the occultation of Venus – when the moon would blot Venus from view – was just a few hours away. Thank you, Lakshmi.

Among the first to see the moon and Venus on February 26 were those in the Philippines. This photo is by EarthSky Facebook friend Peter Jones Dela Cruz in General Santos City, Philippines.

EarthSky Facebook friend Chris Levitan Photography caught Venus and the moon on February 25. Visit Chris Levitan Photography.

Ayedt Wiseguy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia caught the pair on February 25, “I saw Venus chasing the moon or is it vice versa…” Actually, it is vice versa. It’s the moon’s monthly orbit around Earth that causes it to sweep past Venus, which is now in the predawn sky. Thank you, Ayedt!

View larger. | EarthSky Facebook friend Ocean Watch OBX caught this photo of the moon and Venus over the ocean on February 25.

Our friend Glenn Miles Photography captured this shot of Venus and the moon on February 25. Visit Glenn Miles Photography on Facebook.

EarthSky Facebook friend Stacy Oliver Bryant captured this beautiful photo of the moon and Venus on Tuesday morning, February 25. Thank you, Stacy!

EarthSky friend on G+ Michael Rael in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado captured the moon and Venus on February 25. Thank you, Michael.

EarthSky Facebook friend Jean-Baptiste Feldmann Photographies wrote, “Morning after morning the moon is approaching Venus. The meeting is scheduled at the dawn of Wednesday, February 26 … ” This image is from February 24. Thank you, Jean-Baptiste! See more photos from Jean-Baptiste Feldmann Photographies.
Bottom line: On the morning of Wednesday, February 26, the moon appears close to Venus from most of the world. And from some parts of the world, the moon actually covered Venus from view in the first of two occultations of Venus for 2014. EarthSky friends on Facebook and Google+ shared these wonderful photos of the moon inching toward Venus on our sky’s dome in the days before the event, and then passing it. Thanks to all who posted!
More photos: Click here for dramatic photos of Venus disappearing behind the moon