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Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén
(Clear Skies,
TWAN)
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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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mercury - Moon
Publications with words: Mercury - Moon
See also:
- APOD: 2026 August 25 Á Earths Shadow Visualized with Lunar Eclipses
- APOD: 2026 May 11 Á Moon Setting Behind Teide Volcano
- APOD: 2026 May 9 Á Messier Craters in Stereo
- APOD: 2026 April 15 Á The ISS Transits the Moon
- APOD: 2026 April 11 Á Artemis II: Flight Day 6
- The Bay of Rainbows
- Earthset from Orion