Latest news with #crescentmoon
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Science
- Forbes
Don't Miss This Weekend's Sky Show — The Moon, Venus And A Star Cluster
Early risers on Sunday, June 22, are in for a pre-dawn treat — a triangular arrangement of the waning crescent moon flanked by Venus and the Pleiades star cluster. The three most beautiful naked-eye sights to be had in the night sky will create a stunning panorama just before sunrise. Here's everything you need to know about when and where to see them. To catch this display, head outside about an hour before sunrise and look east. Venus, unmistakably bright at magnitude -4.2, will be shining beneath a 13%-lit waning crescent moon (over 30 times brighter than Venus). To the left of the pair will be the Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45), one of the closest open clusters of stars to the solar system. Aside from the brilliance of Venus and the dazzling twinkling stars of the Pleiades, look carefully at the moon's darkened portion — its night side. Despite there being no direct sunlight upon it, it is faintly illuminated. That's Earthshine or planet-shine, sunlight reflected from Earth's oceans and clouds onto the moon. It will create a softly lit lunar disk above Venus — a beautiful sight! The entire spectacle is, of course, a line-of-sight illusion — all three objects extremely far from each other. The moon is about 238,000 miles from Earth, Venus about 150 times farther and the Pleiades around 444 light-years away. Forget all about a telescope. It's what everyone immediately thinks of when they think about astronomy, and it's very often completely irrelevant. You just need naked eyes for this sky event, though a pair of binoculars will enhance the view, especially if you want to appreciate the cluster of stars in the Pleiades and get a close-up of Earthshine on the moon. More important is an observing location with a clear, unobstructed view to the eastern or western horizon, if possible away from city lights — though light pollution makes zero difference to the planets and the moon. If you're up for another early outing, Monday, June 23, will see an even slimmer waning crescent moon closer to the Pleiades — just half a degree away — with Venus remaining nearby. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
When And Where To See A Spectacular ‘Smiley Face' In The Sky Tonight
A delicate crescent moon will tonight shine below two bright stars to create the illusion of a 'smiley face.' Although the celestial sight will be a beautiful sight — and an easy one to find in the night sky — the observing window is short. It's an illusion created in the night sky when a crescent moon passes beneath two close stars. In this case, it's a 12%-lit waxing crescent moon — a young moon fresh from its new phase on Monday — now creeping away from the sun's glare and passing two bright stars, Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini. About 45 minutes after sunset, where you are on Thursday, May 29, 2025, is when to head outside, just as a deep twilight takes hold. However, there isn't much time to waste, because, within about 90 minutes, the moon — the "mouth" of the "smiley face" — will sink below the horizon, followed soon after by the '"eyes" castor and Pollux. The action will take place in the north-western sky, as seen from North America. That's just above where the sun will have set about 45 minutes prior. The "smiley face" will sink as you observe it. Besides being the mouth of the "smiley face," a 12%-lit waxing crescent moon is a beautiful sight all on its own. Look away from its bright crescent to the darker side of the moon, and you'll see it subtly lit. That's 'Earthshine,' sunlight reflected onto the moon by Earth's ice caps, clouds and oceans. It's an ethereal sight that can be easily seen with the naked eye but is best viewed through binoculars. It's only visible when the crescent moon is particularly slender. Scientists believe that "Earthshine" is becoming dimmer due to the climate crisis. Pollux (the left-hand "eye") and Castor, the heads of the Gemini twins, are two of the brightest stars in the night sky. About 34 and 51 light-years from the Sun, Pollux is slightly brighter and more orange than Castor, which has a more yellow hue. Pollux is a giant star, while Castor is three stars orbiting each other. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Emirates 24/7
28-05-2025
- General
- Emirates 24/7
Friday 6th June first day of Eid Al Adha in UAE
The Presidential Court has announced the official sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah for the Hijri year 1446, confirming that Wednesday, 28th May 2025, will be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah. Consequently, Friday, 6th June 2025, corresponding to 10th Dhu al-Hijjah, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha. "On this occasion, we extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates; His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; the people of the UAE, and to the entire world. We pray to Almighty Allah to return this occasion upon our beloved nation and all with blessings, prosperity, and joy," the Presidential Court said in a statement. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
UAE announces first day of Eid Al Adha
ABU DHABI: The Presidential Court has announced the official sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah for the Hijri year 1446, confirming that Wednesday, 28th May 2025, will be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah. Consequently, Friday, 6th June 2025, corresponding to 10th Dhu al-Hijjah, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha. "On this occasion, we extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates; His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; the people of the UAE, and to the entire world. We pray to Almighty Allah to return this occasion upon our beloved nation and all with blessings, prosperity, and joy," the Presidential Court said in a statement.
Gulf Business
27-05-2025
- General
- Gulf Business
Date announced: UAE confirms first day of Eid Al Adha
Image credit: Getty Images The Presidential Court in UAE has announced the official sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of the month of Dhu Al Hijjah for the Hijri year 1446. Accordingly, Wednesday, 28 May 2025, will be the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah. Consequently, Friday, June 6, 2025, corresponding to 10 Dhu Al Hijjah, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha, 'On this occasion, we extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, the Supreme Council members and rulers of the emirates; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; the people of the UAE; and the entire world. We pray to Almighty Allah to return this occasion upon our beloved nation and all people with blessings, prosperity, and joy,' the Presidential Court said in a statement. The The session was chaired by Shaykh Abdullah bin Al Shaykh Al Mahfouz bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa. Attendees included Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Vice Chairman of the Council, along with other members who are experts in Islamic jurisprudence, legal studies, and astronomy.
