Set your alarm for about 90 minutes before sunrise this Friday, as a stunning celestial display awaits early risers. If skies are clear, look east for a breathtaking pairing of the crescent moon and Venus. The moon, only 16% illuminated, will appear thin and silver, while Venus, shining brilliantly at magnitude -4.5, will hover to its lower left. Though about 7 degrees apart—nearly the width of your fist at arm’s length—their brightness makes them an unforgettable sight. This illusion highlights their distance: Venus is 259 times farther than the moon. Venus continues rising higher until mid-summer, peaking in visibility by July.
Set your alarm for about 90 minutes before sunrise this Friday, as a stunning celestial display awaits early risers. If skies are clear, look east for a breathtaking pairing of the crescent moon and Venus. The moon, only 16% illuminated, will appear thin and silver, while Venus, shining brilliantly at magnitude -4.5, will hover to its lower left. Though about 7 degrees apart—nearly the width of your fist at arm’s length—their brightness makes them an unforgettable sight. This illusion highlights their distance: Venus is 259 times farther than the moon. Venus continues rising higher until mid-summer, peaking in visibility by July.
