The crescent moon shines near Mars above the western horizon at sundown on Sept. 24, however you may have to be fast to identify the purple planet earlier than it slips swiftly from view alongside the twinkling stars of the constellation Virgo.
Look to the west within the half-hour following sundown on Sept. 24 to see the ten%-lit type of the waning crescent moon hanging 10 levels — roughly the width of your outstretched fist — above the horizon, with Mars shining a bit over 5 levels to its higher proper.
The red planet owes its distinctive hue to an oxidizing process that rusts iron present in the rocks and dust of Mars. This rust-laden mud will get kicked up into the martian environment, making it seem purple from afar.
Both the moon and Mars will disappear under the horizon only one hour after sundown, so remember to discover a location with a transparent view of the western horizon to make sure a glimpse on the photo voltaic system pairing.
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You might even discover a mushy glow, often called Earthshine, infusing the unlit expanse of the lunar disk because it shines subsequent to the purple planet on Sept. 24, simply three days out from its new moon section, which gave rise to a beautiful partial photo voltaic eclipse for tens of millions of viewers within the southern hemisphere.
Earthshine, or the “Da Vinci Glow”, is created by daylight reflecting from Earth to light up the moon, revealing the huge darkish lava fields scarring the lunar floor, which stand as a testomony to its chaotic previous.
Stargazers enthusiastic about exploring the wonders of the photo voltaic system ought to take a look at our roundup of the greatest telescope offers out there in 2025, together with our information to the perfect smartphone astronomy apps that’ll have you ever navigating the night time sky with ease.
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