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Birthday · April 24, 2009

Moon and Morning Star

April 24, 2009

Another year older means another lap aboard a world spinning through the void at impossible speed.

Moon and Morning Star

A little universe, just for you

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APOD published April 24, 2009. Credit: David Cortner. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

Behind the image

Moon and Morning Star

Original APOD · April 24, 2009

Wednesday, the Moon and Venus rose together in early morning skies. Even through clouds, both show off a lovely crescent in this well-composed skyscape from Rutherford College, North Carolina, in the eastern US. Farther west, North American skygazers could also witness the Moon passing in front of Venus. The bright planet disappeared behind the Moon's sunlit crescent and reappeared along its darkened limb as morning twilight gave way to daylight hours. Of course the dimmer lunar crescent was waning, approaching today's New Moon phase. Beginning a stint as the brilliant Morning Star, Venus' crescent is waxing though, and will grow thicker in the coming months as Venus rises higher in morning skies.

Image credit: David Cortner

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