View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Chuck Reinhart from Vincennes, Indiana, shared this photo with us and wrote: “Shortly after sunset, I was able to capture Mars, Venus and the crescent moon with some earthshine.” Thank you, Chuck!
The solstice arrived on June 21, 2023, bringing summer to the Northern Hemisphere and winter to the Southern Hemisphere. And – as a special solstice treat for all of us on Earth – the waxing crescent moon was near the planets Mars and Venus on the evening of the solstice.
Enjoy these photos of the cosmic trio from the EarthSky community! Thank you to all who submitted. Submit your photo here.
Cosmic trio – moon, Venus, Mars – June 21, 2023
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, captured this photo of the moon, Venus and Mars and wrote: “[They] formed a beautiful triangle in the western sky just after sunset. I deliberately over-exposed the image in order to capture earthshine on the moon.” Thank you, David!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Richard Koenig in Traverse City, Michigan, shared this photo with us and wrote: “The ‘cosmic trio’ I learned about from your site. Taken on the summer solstice, about an hour after sunset.” Thank you, Richard! We’re so happy you saw them!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Eric Thurber in Boise, Idaho, took this photo and wrote: “Moon, Venus and Mars and a layer of smoke rolling in from somewhere …” Thank you, Eric! Interested in red suns and moons from wildfires? Read about them here.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Cecille Kennedy from Depoe Bay, Oregon, took this photo and wrote: “It’s the summer solstice, almost midnight, and the moon, Venus and Mars are setting very low on the ocean horizon, looking west. There is a veil of mist in the atmosphere.” Thank you, Cecille!
Moon and Venus, June 21, 2023
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Stuart González in Dayton, Ohio, shared this photo of the moon and Venus. Apparently, in Stuart’s neighborhood, Mars was too shy to appear from behind the clouds. Thank you, Stuart! Those colors are amazing.And, last but definitely not least, Chanti L from Monhegan, Maine, shared this lovely landscape with the beautiful moon and Venus. Thank you, Chanti!
Cosmic trio from China
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Terry Lui from Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, China, took this photo of our favorite cosmis trio. Terry wrote: “The summer solstice arrived on 21 June. Today is 22 June 2023, and it is also the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. When I waited at the river bank for the celestial show at night sky, I was so lucky to capture the cosmic trio in clouds before the Venus setting behind the Castle Peak, the highest peak in western New Territories, Hong Kong.” Thank you! That festival sounds fun.
The Southern Hemisphere view
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe, shared this image on the June solstice and wrote: “This beautiful last light view towards Christmas Pass and Transmitter Hill from Murambi Heights in Mutare shows a near vertical Southern Hemisphere alignment of Mars (top), Venus, and the 2-day-old waxing crescent moon above receding late volcanic sunset glow. The Gemini star Pollux is about to set behind the shoulder of Transmitter Hill below and the Canis Minor star Procyon shines bright above Christmas Pass on the left.” Thank you, Peter!
The 2023 June solstice will feature the waxing crescent moon glowing next to brilliant Venus with the much, much dimmer Mars nearby. Above them will be the bright star Regulus in Leo the Lion. And below them will be the twin stars, Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini. Hopefully, you’ll have clear skies so you can enjoy the solstice sky. Chart by John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Bottom line: On the June solstice, many saw a crescent moon near brilliant Venus and the dimmer, reddish Mars. This cosmic trio was a treat in our solstice sky. Best photos here.
Kelly Kizer Whitt has been a science writer specializing in astronomy for more than two decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine, and she has made regular contributions to AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club, among other outlets. Her children’s picture book, Solar System Forecast, was published in 2012. She has also written a young adult dystopian novel titled A Different Sky. When she is not reading or writing about astronomy and staring up at the stars, she enjoys traveling to the national parks, creating crossword puzzles, running, tennis, and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin.
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