Crescent Moon Aligns with Venus and Regulus in Rare Celestial Trio

  • Predawn sky hosts a close grouping of the crescent Moon, Venus and Regulus
  • Lunar occultation of Venus visible across parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and North America
  • Best viewed 1-2 hours before local sunrise toward the eastern horizon

Lead A thin crescent Moon will form a tight triangle with Venus and the star Regulus in the predawn sky on September 19, 2025, while observers in select regions will witness the Moon briefly hide Venus.

Nut Graf This spectacular alignment combines three conjunctions and, for some, a daylight lunar occultation, offering skywatchers an accessible and striking display without specialized equipment.

Main Part

Subheading: What to Expect Early on September 19, the 5%-illuminated waning crescent Moon, Venus shining at magnitude -3.9, and Regulus at magnitude 1.4 will appear within a few degrees of each other in Leo. The exact separation varies by location, ranging from under 1° in New York to about 4° in Sydney.

Subheading: Lunar Occultation of Venus Between 10:34 GMT and 14:26 GMT, viewers across parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and North America will see Venus disappear behind the Moon’s bright limb and reappear from its unlit side-a daylight occultation visible only during this event until June 2026.

Subheading: When and Where to Look Look east 1-2 hours before your local sunrise, with an unobstructed horizon. In the U.S. East Coast, the trio will rise around 4:30 AM local time, forming an almost vertical line: Regulus lowest, Venus mid-line, Moon highest. In other regions, the pattern may appear triangular.

Subheading: Viewing Tips

  • Use binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens to capture the occultation phases.
  • Schedule observations via astronomy apps to get precise local timings.
  • Choose a location with clear, haze-free skies for optimum visibility.

Subheading: What’s Next On September 21, Saturn reaches opposition-its closest, brightest appearance of the year-while a partial solar eclipse graces parts of the Southern Hemisphere, marking two more highlight events in this celestial weekend.