Explanation:
On Tuesday, May 6, while standing on
planet Earth
and sweeping your binoculars along the western horizon just
after sunset,
you might have encountered this arresting skyscape.
The view features a slender crescent Moon and
bright planet Mercury separated on the sky by only
about 2 degrees.
Cradled in the
sunlit lunar crescent, the night
side of the Moon is faintly illuminated by earthshine --
sunlight reflected from planet Earth.
Of course, the clouds in silhouette and fading twilight colors
are common elements in pictures of the sky after sunset,
but much less often seen is inner planet Mercury,
usually hiding
close to the Sun in Earth's sky.
Still, the coming week will be a
good
time to
spot Mercury near the western horizon
about 30 minutes after sunset.
As for the Moon,
tonight and
tomorrow
night the crescent Moon will wander close to Mars
in the early evening sky.
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