Explanation:
A young crescent Moon shared the western
sky with thin clouds and the
sister
stars of the Pleiades cluster in this
early evening skyscape recorded on April 19th.
Astronomical images of the
well-known Pleiades
often show the
star cluster's alluring blue reflection nebulae, but they
are washed-out here in the clouds and bright moonlight.
While the 3-day old Moon is overexposed, surface features can
be seen on the dim lunar night side, illuminated by
earthshine - light
from sunlit planet Earth.
Only a week earlier, brilliant Venus
also posed near the
sister stars.
Of course, Venus has not yet wandered too far from
the Pleiades and still rules western skies as
the
evening star.
