Crescent moon aligns with Venus in Saudi skies

The skies over Saudi Arabia witnessed a striking celestial event yesterday evening, as the waxing crescent moon aligned with Venus in the western horizon after sunset. The phenomenon was visible to the naked eye, requiring no special equipment for observation.

This conjunction occurs due to the apparent motion of the moon and planets along their orbits.

Zahi Al-Khalawi, president of the Space and Astronomy Society, explained that such conjunctions are recurring astronomical events that take place at various times throughout the year. They offer skywatchers opportunities to observe and photograph the phenomenon, especially during twilight. The event can be documented using smartphone or digital cameras, while binoculars help reveal more details of the crescent, including earthshine on the moon’s darkened portion. Al-Khalawi noted that the Northern Borders region’s low light pollution attracts astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers keen to observe celestial events and track the movement of planets and stars.