Don’t Miss Monday’s Must-See Sky Show As A Crescent Moon Cuddles Venus

InnovationScienceDon’t Miss Monday’s Must-See Sky Show As A Crescent Moon Cuddles VenusByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 04:41am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.A delicate crescent moon pairs with brilliant Venus after sunset Monday, creating one of May 2026’s easiest and most beautiful skywatching events. . (Photo by: Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesSkywatchers are in for one of the prettiest celestial sights of the month on Monday, May 18, as a delicate crescent moon appears beside dazzling Venus low in the south-western sky after sunset.The pairing will be visible to anyone with a clear horizon, requiring no telescope or astronomy experience — just the naked eye.Venus, often mistaken for a bright star, will shine intensely from about 30 minutes after sunset, while the young moon will hang just beneath it in a striking close conjunction — the best of 2026.The brief but beautiful display is part of May’s ongoing “planet parade,” which currently features Jupiter and Venus after sunset (soon to be joined by Mercury) and Mars and Saturn before sunrise.On Monday, May 18, a slender 7%-lit waxing crescent moon will appear only a couple of degrees beneath Venus shortly after sunset.NASA/JPL-CaltechWhen To See The Crescent Moon And Venus PairingOn Monday, May 18, a slender 7%-lit waxing crescent moon will appear only a couple of degrees beneath Venus shortly after sunset. The sight will become visible low in the south-western sky around 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, depending on location, and remain visible for roughly two hours before setting below the horizon.MORE FOR YOUVenus dominates the evening sky at the moment, blazing far brighter than any su...