A rare astronomical phenomenon, the “Moon occults Venus,” will appear today (June 17) in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and northeastern South America. It is an event that can be observed with the naked eye, showcasing a unique celestial display. The Moon occulting Venus is quite rare, and missing this opportunity means waiting at least another 4 years for the next occurrence.
The “Moon occults Venus” refers to the Moon orbiting the Earth, passing in front of Venus when it aligns between Venus and Earth. As the Moon slowly moves away, Venus gradually emerges from behind the Moon, once again visible in the sky. This occultation phenomenon requires precise alignment of Earth, the Moon, and Venus in the sky.
This astronomical spectacle will take place at 16:40 EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) in the eastern United States, which is 20:40 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Observers in the continental United States, northern Mexico, southern Canada, and the Caribbean will witness it during daytime before sunset, while those in northeastern South America will see it in the dark night sky after sunset.
For people in the United States, this is a rare observation opportunity, with a similar event not expected until 2029-2031.
The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) has provided a list of ingress and egress times, as well as specific locations along the occultation path. The astronomy simulation software Stellarium can be used to determine the observation times for your location.
Observing Venus during the day requires patience – the darker the sky and cleaner the background, the easier it is to see Venus and the Moon.
Since Venus is one of the brightest objects in the solar system after the Sun and the Moon, observing the “Moon occults Venus” is relatively easy. According to observations, the Moon is approaching Venus in its 11% illuminated crescent phase, with an estimated occultation duration of 29 seconds.
Several hours after the “Moon occults Venus,” during dusk, another celestial event can be observed: the Moon will occult the “Beehive Cluster” (M44) located at the center of the Cancer constellation. Reports indicate that optimal observing conditions will be present in the southeastern United States during dusk.
Additionally, Venus will pass north of the “Beehive Cluster” (M44) on June 19.
Venus is the only planet bright enough to be clearly observed during daylight. With a visual brightness of -4 magnitude, about 74% illuminated, and a visual diameter of 15 arcseconds, Venus is an exceptionally bright celestial body in the sky.
In 2026, there will be three occurrences of the “Moon occults Venus” phenomenon, with the next two happening on September 14 in Southeast Asia and on November 7 in the southernmost part of South America.
This article was based on reports from “Universe Today.”