Starwatch: A young crescent moon journeys past Venus and Jupiter
The slim arc of a two-day-old moon will pass Venus shining brightly
Keep an eye on the western sky after sunset this week to watch a beautiful sequence unfold over several evenings. A young crescent moon moves first past Venus and then Jupiter, creating a chance to track the moon’s movement through its orbit around the Earth.
The chart shows the view on 18 May looking west from London at 22.00. The moon will be just 2.4 days old, and just 6.2% of its visible surface will be illuminated. Close to this slim arc of light, Venus will be shining brightly, unmistakable even in twilight.