Rare Crescent Moon, Venus & Star Show Before Sunrise

Dubai skywatchers, mark your early morning! Before sunrise on Friday, Sept. 19, the sky will host one of the most beautiful sights of the year. Look toward the east-northeast horizon and you will see a thin crescent moon, bright planet Venus, and the star Regulus, all close together.

The three objects will appear so close that they fit within the width of your little finger held at arm’s length. This rare “triple conjunction” is a sight not to miss.

The moon will be just 6% illuminated, but thanks to “Earthshine” — sunlight reflecting off our planet — even the dark part of the crescent will glow softly. Venus, the dazzling Morning Star, will shine far brighter than the star Regulus, which will appear smaller and fainter. In fact, Venus is about 110 times brighter than Regulus!

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Observers across North America will see different patterns: on the east coast, the moon, Venus, and Regulus will almost form a straight line, while on the west coast, the three may form a small triangle. In places like northeastern Canada, Greenland, Western Europe, and North Africa, the moon may even pass directly in front of Venus for a short “occultation” — a very special view!

After this stunning close encounter, the crescent moon will shrink and become a new moon on Sept. 21, causing a partial solar eclipse visible in New Zealand, Antarctica, and the western South Pacific. Then, on Sept. 22, the autumn equinox will bring nearly equal day and night, giving longer nights for stargazing in the Northern Hemisphere.

Venus will continue to shine brightly as the Morning Star for the rest of September, giving skywatchers more chances to enjoy its brilliance.

Whether with binoculars or just your eyes, this early morning sky show promises to be unforgettable — a treat for anyone who loves looking up at the stars.