Today's Image

The young moon returns

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September 30, 2019

Composite image of first a sunset behind a mountain rim, then a crescent moonset behind the same mountain rim. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | The sunset on September 29, followed by a brief appearance of the very young moon, before it, too, set. Photo by Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe.

On September 29, 2019, the very thin young (22 hours after new) moon was captured setting behind Murahwa Mountain near Mutare in exactly the same place where the sun disappeared 50 minutes earlier. Both young moon and Venus first became visible about half an hour after sunset and were photographed descending until the moon had set behind the mountain. As darkness approached, Mercury with the bright star Spica (left) also became visible above Venus, creating a triangular formation. [see chart here, and photo below]

Unusual to see such a nice combination/coincidence of events in the same portion of sky! The young moon was very thin and hard to see.

Check out EarthSky Community Photos for more photos of this month’s young moon

Composite image showing 2 shots of the moon and Venus, setting behind a mountain rim. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | The very young moon and Venus first became visible about half an hour after sunset and were photographed descending until the moon disappeared behind the mountain. Photo by Peter Lowenstein.

A triangle of objects after sunset: Venus, Mercury, star Spica. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | As darkness approached on September 29, Mercury with the bright star Spica (left) also became visible above Venus, creating a triangular formation. Photo by Peter Lowenstein.

Bottom line: The sunset, young moon and Venus on the evening of September 29, 2019, as seen from Mutare, Zimbabwe.

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September 30, 2019

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Today's Image

Peter Lowenstein

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About the Author:

Dr. Peter Lowenstein has contributed many beautiful and fascinating images and stories to EarthSky. Trained as a geochemist, he spent his early years with the Geological Survey of Papua New Guinea, specializing in metals and volcanoes. In 1989, he moved to the Zimbabwe Geological Survey as Chief Economic Geologist and has lived and worked in Zimbabwe ever since. Peter is now retired to Zimbabwe, in a house with a beautiful view in Murambi East, Mutare, where he pursues favorite hobbies including construction of electronic gadgets, listening to music, gardening, surfing the Internet ... and photography.