Crescent Moon Passes Venus this Weekend.

The planets of our solar system orbit the sun in a flat plane.  Looking to the night sky, we find that all the planets lie along a line known as the ecliptic.  This line is also the path the sun takes through the constellations of the zodiac.  The moon also follows along this line, but at a slightly inclined angle.

Because of this arrangement, the moon appears to  pass each of the planets as it orbits around the Earth.   This weekend is a great opportunity to see the moon pass the planet Venus.  Since both the crescent moon and the planet Venus are very bright and easy to spot, there is no mistaking them in the twilight sky.

On the evening of September 8 look to the West for the crescent moon.  Venus will be the extremely bright light to the right.  Saturn will also be visible above and to the left.  

Observers with binoculars or a small telescope (using low power) should be able to see both the crescent moon and Venus in the same field of view.  

If you miss this month's viewing, just hang around until October, when the crescent moon again passes Venus.

Venus and Crescent Moon after sunset on September 8.  Created with Stellarium