Moon Meets Morning Star

As seen on Astronomy Picture of the Day rising in the dark hours before dawn, wandering Venus as the morning star is photographed in this multi-exposure image during Moon-Venus conjunction on 2012 August 13. But from the location of the TWAN photographer in eastern Asia a lunar occultation was in progress, the waning crescent Moon passing directly in front of the bright planet. This image is constructed from frames made at 10 minute intervals follows the celestial performance from above the city lights and clouds over Taebaek, Korea. The occultation begins near the horizon and progresses as the pair rises. Venus first disappears behind the Moon’s sunlit crescent, emerging before dawn from the dark lunar limb. See this scene in a timelapse video.

This photo was highly commended in Earth and Space category of Astrophotographer of the Year 2014 competition of Royal Museums Greenwich. Kwon O Chul – Astrokorea.com/kwon572