Crescent Moon and Three Planets to Create Stunning Sunset Sky Show on June 17

Skywatchers are in for a treat on June 17 when a slender crescent moon will shine alongside Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury, creating a breathtaking planetary parade visible in the western sky after sunset. The moon will glide through the Beehive Cluster, an open star cluster containing about 1,000 young stars, offering a rare celestial alignment.

Mercury's steady light will appear low on the western horizon in the glow of the setting sun, while Jupiter glistens close to the moon's upper left. Venus and the moon will line up beyond, completing a spectacular display. Observers may also notice earthshine—a soft glow that illuminates the moon's night side as sunlight reflects off Earth.

For those with binoculars, a pair of 10x50 binoculars will reveal dozens of brilliant stars surrounding the three-day-old moon within the Beehive Cluster. A 4-inch telescope can provide the magnification needed to highlight Jupiter's cloud bands and its four large Galilean moons.

Mercury will be the first of the parade members to slip from view, less than two hours after sunset. The moon will remain visible for another hour after that for stargazers in the U.S., before it dips below the western horizon. The following night, the waxing moon will leave Venus and the Beehive Cluster behind as it sweeps toward Regulus, a multi-star system at the heart of the constellation Leo.

In the weeks that follow, Mercury will sink closer to the horizon with each passing night, while Venus rises away from Jupiter to chart a course through the constellation Cancer, passing just 1 degree from Regulus on July 9. Enthusiasts are encouraged to capture the event and share their photos with Space.com at spacephotos@space.com.