The slender waxing crescent moon will shine close to the ‘Kingly’ star Regulus within the constellation Leo on the night time of July 26, providing a photogenic — if difficult — goal for these with a transparent view of the western horizon.
Look west at sundown to seek out the razor-thin crescent moon hanging lower than 10 levels above the horizon. Regulus will seem as a blue-white level of sunshine roughly 1 diploma to the decrease proper of the moon’s glowing edge, changing into extra distinguished because the solar slips additional beneath the horizon.
You possibly can estimate distances within the night time sky by holding your hand out at arm’s size in entrance of your face. The width of the tip of your little finger equals about 1 diploma and your clenched fist spans roughly 10 levels.
The moon’s 7% illuminated disk might show tough to identify in opposition to the night sky and can swiftly set alongside Regulus, just a little over an hour after the solar. In the event you do spot the moon, it’s possible you’ll discover a comfortable glow infusing its night time aspect. This phenomenon, often called ‘Earthshine’, or the ‘Da Vinci Glow’, solely happens across the new moon section, when the lunar disk is nicely positioned to be bathed in daylight mirrored off Earth’s floor and environment, revealing the presence of historical lava plains darkening the lunar floor.
By the following night, July 27, the moon could have traveled away from Regulus alongside the ecliptic — the trail the moon, solar and planets hint by way of our sky — shifting on a trajectory that may see it go near Mars within the night sky early subsequent week.
Stargazers hoping to discover the wonders of the post-sunset realm ought to take a look at our guides to the perfect telescopes and binoculars for viewing the planets, stars and deep sky objects that populate the cosmos. Photographers trying to seize the night time sky also needs to take a look at our roundups of the perfect cameras and lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s Be aware: In the event you seize an image of the moon with Regulus and wish to share it with Area.com’s readers, then please ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your title and site to spacephotos@house.com.
