Moon and Venus Dance at Dawn in Rare Sky Conjunction

Lead: In the early predawn sky of September 19, 2025, a slender crescent Moon and the brilliant planet Venus aligned in the constellation Leo, with some observers also spotting a brief occultation of Venus by the Moon.

Nut Graf: This striking celestial event, featuring a 5% illuminated Moon and Venus shining at magnitude -3.9, drew skywatchers worldwide for a close conjunction that highlighted both Earthshine on the lunar surface and the vivid contrast between the two bodies just before sunrise.

What Skywatchers Saw

  • A thin waning crescent Moon (5% illuminated) glowed softly with Earthshine, caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth onto the Moon’s dark side.
  • Venus, the morning star, blazed nearby at magnitude -3.9, approximately 110 times brighter than Regulus, which completed the trio.
  • In parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, Canada, Greenland, and Russia, the Moon passed directly in front of Venus, briefly obscuring the planet in a lunar occultation.

When and Where to Look

Observers were advised to face east 1-2 hours before local sunrise. From 40° N, 90° W, the trio rose around 4:30 AM local time, clustering within a 1° field-roughly the width of a fingertip held at arm’s length.

Viewing Tips and Regional Variations

  • North America (East Coast): Nearly vertical alignment with the Moon above Venus and Regulus below.
  • North America (West Coast): Slight triangular formation with Venus just below the Moon.
  • Occultation Zone: Those in northeastern Canada, Greenland, Europe, and parts of Asia witnessed Venus disappear behind the Moon between 10:34 GMT and 14:26 GMT.

Why It Matters

Such tight conjunctions between the Moon and a bright planet are relatively rare, offering both casual stargazers and photographers a chance to observe multiple celestial bodies in a single field of view. The next similar widely visible occultation of Venus by the Moon won’t occur until June 18, 2026.

What’s Next in the Sky

  • September 21: Saturn reaches opposition, rising opposite the Sun at its brightest.
  • September 21: A partial solar eclipse will be visible from New Zealand, Australia, and Antarctica, marking another noteworthy event for skywatchers this week.