Astronomy/Quarter moon

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Expert: - 3/3/2009


Question
on February 26, 2009 approx 800pm CST the moon was in the shape of an upright crescent with a star to the right . I have never seen this before. is this something I have just been missing or is this a monthly/yearly cycle

Answer
Hello,

These sort of close conjunctions of the Moon with a planet often occur. You just may not have seen many of them, but they aren't necessarily "rare".

If you can get hold of the current issue of ASTRONOMY magazine, in their Sky section (p. 42) you will see where it is noted for Feb. 26th:

"The Moon passes 1.9 degree north of Mercury"

So clearly, this is what you actually saw.

Astronomy

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Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

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