A Darker View

This evening continues the nice lineup of planets with a crescent Moon passing through. Tonight the Moon will be in the gap between Mercury and Venus making for a very nice photo opportunity with a thin, 8% crescent, accenting the line of planets.

The show continues tomorrow as the moon rises higher and joins up with Venus. The following night the Moon will be nearer to Mars, still presenting a very nice evening show. Make sure you get out to watch the progress of these objects each evening.

Josh Walawender, a local observer who often joins us up at the VIS, has written a nice guide for astronomical visitors vacationing on the Big Island. I covers a few of the local observing sites as well as a general introduction to the island. If you are visiting and hope to catch a little dark sky, give it a read!