Last week I had everyone up early at stupid-o'clock to try and see a thin waning crescent Moon in the dawn sky. This week you could try catching a thin waxing crescent Moon in the evening sky. The phase is now called "waxing" or "becoming brighter" as there was a New Moon on 23rd August and it is now heading towards a Full Moon.
Venture outside at sunset on Tuesday 26th, say from about 8pm and look towards the west south west. A waxing 12%-lit crescent Moon will be just about to set below the horizon. Slightly above and to the right of the Moon, it should be possible to spot Mars, shining at a magnitude of +1.6 and because the Sun will have disappeared below the horizon, it would be totally safe to use your telescope for a better view of the Red Planet.
If you have a decent-size telescope and you are feeling the urge for an early morning start, aim it towards the south west just before 5am on Tuesday 27th and locate Saturn. Saturn's largest moon Titan will be starting to enter the shadow of the gas giant, which means that Titan will be eclipsed by the planet and will gradually become a "quarter" and then "crescent" phase.
Alternatively, point your telescope towards the east around 4am on Sunday 31st to catch the shadow of Jupiter's largest moon Ganymede as it transits in front of the planet. The transit actually begins at 3.30am and lasts until 6.30am, so you could pick any slot between those times if you oversleep a bit!
www.starsoversomerset.com
Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium
Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2025
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