Friday, September 6, 2024

Crescent Moon Covers Spica (after sunset)

Look low in the western sky after sunset on Friday, September 6 to see the slim, waxing crescent moon shining well to the left (or about 17 degrees to
the southeast) of the brilliant planet Venus. Use binoculars to search just
to the right of the moon for Virgo's brightest star, Spica. The moon slides eastward in its orbit by its own diameter every hour. Rewinding time to
midday on Friday in the Americas will find the moon passing directly in front of Spica in a daytime lunar occultation that will be visible in large binoculars and backyard telescopes. The zone in which the occultation is visible will include northeastern North America and Bermuda, then south and east across the Atlantic to the Azores, Ascension Island, and most of western and central Africa, where the occultation will occur in a dark sky.

(Data Courtesy of Starry Night)
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