On the morning of September 19, 2025, the pre-dawn sky will feature a spectacular celestial gathering as the crescent moon, the planet Venus, and the bright star Regulus converge in a captivating alignment. This event, visible approximately 45 minutes before sunrise, will present a striking triangular formation low in the eastern sky.
Venus, known as the "Morning Star," will be a prominent beacon, accompanied by a slender crescent moon illuminated to about six percent of its surface. The star Regulus will also join this cosmic trio. For observers in Europe, Greenland, parts of Canada, and Africa, the event includes an occultation of Venus by the Moon, where Venus will appear to vanish behind the Moon before re-emerging. In other regions, Venus and the crescent moon will remain in close proximity, alongside the luminous blue star Regulus.
The moon's faint glow on its unilluminated side, known as Earthshine or the Da Vinci glow, will also be visible, caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth onto the lunar surface. The precise appearance of this alignment will vary by location. On the east coast of North America, the three celestial bodies will appear almost in a straight line, separated by less than a degree. Conversely, observers on the west coast will witness a tighter grouping, forming a subtle triangular pattern. Venus, with a magnitude of -3.8, will be significantly brighter than Regulus, which has a magnitude of 1.3, appearing approximately 110 times more radiant.
Following this conjunction, the lunar cycle will continue towards a new moon on September 21. This date also marks a partial solar eclipse, observable from New Zealand, Antarctica, and the western Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, the autumnal equinox on September 22 will bring a near-equal balance of day and night globally, leading to longer nights in the Northern Hemisphere, which is advantageous for stargazing. Venus will maintain its prominent presence as the "Morning Star" throughout the remainder of September.