dailyloe.com – Skywatchers should look west 30 to 90 minutes after sunset on April 19 for a notable alignment. A thin crescent moon will shine above the Pleiades star cluster and the planet Venus. This event occurs just two days after the new moon on April 17. The view will be fleeting as the objects set soon after sunset.
The waxing crescent moon will be only 11% illuminated. It will appear about 20 degrees above the western horizon. This distance equals roughly two clenched fists held at arm’s length. The Pleiades open star cluster will be visible to the lower right of the moon.
The Pleiades contains over 1,000 blue-white stars. It is colloquially known as the Seven Sisters. This name refers to its most prominent members: Asterope, Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Taygete and Merope. The cluster will appear as a diffuse glow of stars.
Venus will shine brightly below the moon as an evening star. It will set approximately two hours after the sun. Observers need a clear view of the western horizon to see the alignment. The three objects will appear close to lining up in the evening sky.
The ice giant Uranus will also be present near Venus. It will lurk 5 degrees to the upper right of Venus. Uranus will have a brightness magnitude of just +5.8. This makes it nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.
Its proximity to the horizon will further challenge visibility on April 19. A pair of binoculars or a telescope may be required. Such optics could resolve its tiny greenish disk in space. The planet will be difficult to spot without optical aid.
Observers may also notice earthshine on the moon’s shadowed side. This soft glow is sunlight bouncing off Earth to strike the moon. The phenomenon is known as the Da Vinci Glow or earthshine. It is often called the old moon in the new moon’s arms.
This glow is most easily seen around the new moon phase. The angle between Earth and the moon is ideal then. It allows our planet to share the sun’s light with its satellite. The moon will glide silently towards the horizon during the event.
