المملكة: It shines in conjunction with Venus.. A wonderful celestial scene awaits the Shawwal crescent this evening

This comes in an exceptional scene that becomes more beautiful with its conjunction with Venus, the brightest planet in the solar system, which creates a charming celestial picture that provides an ideal opportunity for observation and photographic documentation, especially if the horizon is clear of dusty plankton or clouds.

Shawwal Crescent

It was shown that the moon had reached the stage of conjunction at dawn on Thursday. March 19, Mecca time, which is the moment when the moon and the sun converge on approximately the same celestial longitude, before the moon begins to move eastward relative to the stellar background.

With the passage of time, the angular elongation between it and the sun increases, allowing sunlight to be reflected on an increasing part of its surface, so that the crescent gradually appears above the western horizon and the thickness of the illuminated part of it increases day after day.

He pointed out that with sunset today, the crescent will be old. It has exceeded 36 to 38 hours, which is a sufficient period for the crescent to be thick and clear to the naked eye, as it can be easily observed. It will also remain in the sky for a period ranging between 80 to 90 minutes after sunset, which gives observers an appropriate time to follow it.

The “Earth Light” phenomenon

He pointed out the possibility of observing the “Earth Light” phenomenon during observation, as the dark part of the moon appears illuminated by dim lighting. Resulting from the reflection of sunlight from the surface of the Earth towards the Moon, which makes its entire disk faintly visible within the illuminated arc of the crescent. According to Abu Zahra, the moon is an important visual indicator for following the movement of celestial bodies, as its position among the stars changes at a rate of approximately 13 degrees daily towards the east.

With regard to astronomical photography, he explained that the optimal period for taking pictures begins 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, when the brightness of the deep blue sky is balanced with the brilliance of celestial bodies. He advised using a tripod with a long exposure of several seconds, to show the details of the dark part of the moon, while adjusting the light sensitivity appropriately to avoid digital noise.

He concluded that the crescent moon has remained an astronomical time mark throughout the ages that combines the accuracy of calculations and the beauty of the scene, in a unique connection that reflects the depth of man’s relationship with the cycles of the sky.