                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2025 September 20

                             Gibbous vs Crescent
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Luca Bartek

   Explanation: Early risers around planet Earth have enjoyed a shining
   crescent Moon near brilliant Venus, close to the eastern horizon in
   recent morning twilight skies. And yesterday, on September 19,
   skygazers watching from some locations in Earth's northern hemisphere
   were also able to witness Venus, in the inner planet's waxing gibbous
   phase, pass behind the Moon's waning crescent. In fact, this telescopic
   snapshot was taken moments before that occultation of gibbous Venus by
   the crescent Moon began. The close-up view of the beautiful celestial
   alignment records Venus approaching part of the Moon's sunlit edge in
   clear daytime skies from the Swiss Alps. Tomorrow, the Sun will pass
   behind a New Moon. But to witness that partial solar eclipse on
   September 21, skygazers will need to watch from locations in planet
   Earth's southern hemisphere.

                     Tomorrow's picture: equinox sunset
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

