Starwatch: Venus to be joined by young crescent moon in night sky

The brilliant beacon of planet Venus is now unmistakeable in the evening sky, appearing to the naked eye well before the twilight has fully faded into night. This week, the planet will be joined by a young crescent moon on the nights of 18 and 19 April. The chart shows the view looking west from London on 19 April at 8.30pm, about 30 minutes after sunset. No other stars will yet be visible but the moon and Venus will be obvious. The new moon will be particularly beautiful. At just 2.6 days old, it will only have about 7.5% of its visible surface illuminated. For those who like a challenge, 24 hours earlier, the moon will be below Venus and even less of its surface will be illuminated. To stand any chance of seeing the very young moon on 18 April, a clear western horizon is essential. Only start your observations after sunset, as any direct glimpse of the sun could damage your eyesight. The incredibly thin crescent will probably not be immediately visible but will come and go as the Earth’s atmospheric layers shift in the dying heat of the day. From the southern hemisphere, the geometry is more favourable and will place the pairing higher above the western horizon.