Today, Spot Venus shine under the thin crescent moon

Look to the east-northeastern sky before sunrise on Tuesday (July 26) to catch the thin crescent moon slither across the sky above Venus.

[{"selector":"#anim-c7436e6d-8014-47a6-b846-92c84ca2220d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.166666552892387%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef1d07c3-c556-4a2c-895b-d33426966146","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The pair will be close enough to share the same field of view in a pair of binoculars.

[{"selector":"#anim-83c778d0-29a2-492e-b3e5-58c40b48d863 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.510119583901464%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af25656a-c44a-4a33-aff9-e242ec770fd0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] According to astronomer Chris Vaughan of Astrogeo.ca Venus will be shining at a bright magnitude of -3.9, just several finger-widths (or 4 degrees celestial south) to the lower right of the old moon,

[{"selector":"#anim-05a349b2-cc6c-409f-bb05-0017a6ab24fc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-37.07805341001904%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d15345b8-7b80-44f7-8490-53715c7df9ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Eagle-eyed skywatchers catching the pair shortly after they rise at around 4 a.m local time will also be able to see some of the stars of the Gemini constellation (Alhena, Pollux, Castor, and Tejat Posterior) shine around them.of the old moon,

[{"selector":"#anim-a04dbc74-8382-4b20-82c7-3ae7593601ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-337fcf08-f345-42f6-b999-66fdb24b1df7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] skywatching app like SkySafari or software like Starry Night or best stargazing apps helps you check exact time of the event varies depending on your specific location,

[{"selector":"#anim-e1a3a762-0e98-4eb9-8e14-49224510524a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7694e4c5-c2e8-4476-830c-efa926f89c60","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] On Thursday (July 28) the moon will reach its new moon phase at 1:55 p.m. EDT (1755 GMT).

[{"selector":"#anim-5c7920fa-4a9a-476c-a76c-195de375ba64 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.3071375352060315%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07a0ac7c-468a-4480-9744-2029ee9f0f91","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It will then conclude its monthly planetary "meet and greets" by approaching Mercury on Friday (July 29) shortly after sunset.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1e367ec-7af8-4255-a792-d60677720071 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.53902319638271%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5bf4169-652e-40e3-a5a8-03966b11f7bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Another skywatching event to look out for this week is asteroid Juno appearing to reverse direction on Thursday.

[{"selector":"#anim-5ae9b6f6-639c-42c0-b05e-b641b67cefd3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f706259f-0ef5-4dd7-a73a-262848fbc825","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] "Eastward prograde motion of the main belt asteroid designated Juno through the background stars of western Pisces will slow to a stop," Vaughan wrote

[{"selector":"#anim-ce21a0f2-6adc-4468-9dce-f7bd75b6a439 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":10000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-441d59e5-a06c-4f7a-922d-29290af6ef65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Juno will then commence a westward retrograde loop that will last until late October.