Observers who are quick to step outside after sunset can catch a delicate crescent Moon sinking in the west, now just 8 percent lit as sunrise begins to creep over the lunar nearside.
Magnitude 1.6 Mars sits 7° to the upper left (east) of the Moon, slowly becoming visible as the sky darkens. You can catch it a little earlier if you search with binoculars or a telescope, which will likely also show earthshine on the Moon, as sunlight bounces off Earth and illuminates the regions of the Moon still in darkness.
Above the trio, the bright magnitude –0.1 star Arcturus will quickly pop out of the twilight. This aging red giant is some 25 times the width of our Sun and more than 100 times as bright as our star; however, Arcturus has a much lower surface temperature than the Sun, as stars cool as they age.
Sunrise: 6:21 A.M.
Sunset: 7:42 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:45 A.M.
Moonset: 8:47 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (6%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article erroneously stated earthshine occurs when part of the Moon is in Earth’s shadow.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.
