January 3, 2025: After sundown, look for a spectacular Venus-Moon conjunction in the southwestern sky. Saturn is to the upper left of Venus.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:18 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 4:33 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
Spectacular Moon-Venus Conjunction
Step outside after sundown to see a spectacular Venus-Moon conjunction in the southwestern sky. The moon first became visible two nights ago after the lunation, cycle of phases, began on December 30th.
Venus has been the Evening Star since last summer, but its visibility was affected by our poor view of the inner solar system after sunset. Now the planet appears higher in the sky, setting nearly four hours after sunset.
Look for Earthshine
This evening, the crescent moon is 3.6° to Venus’ upper left. Look carefully at the moon’s night portion. It is gently lit by earthshine, sunlight reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land. Photograph the lunar crescent with earthshine and brilliant Venus with a tripod-mounted camera or a handheld camera, if held steadily. Exposures up to a few seconds captures this spectacular conjunction.
Binocular View
Venus and the lunar crescent nicely fit into the same binocular field. In this view, the moon’s earthshine is easily visible next to the gleaming planet. With more magnification through a telescope, Venus shows a slightly gibbous phase, 54% illuminated.
Dimmer Saturn is nearly 15° to Venus’ upper left. A Venus-Saturn conjunction occurs on the 18th.
Tomorrow evening, the moon appears near Saturn, after it occults or eclipses the Ringed Wonder for sky watchers in Europe.
Another Spectacular Venus-Moon Conjunction Next Month
The next Venus-Moon conjunction occurs on February 1st, when they are closer than tonight and Venus is 30% brighter as it approaches its greatest brightness.
Step outside this evening to see this spectacular Venus-Moon conjunction.
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