If it's in the sky, I'm watching it. Late yesterday (about 7:30 pm) I took Parker a walk back Millie's lane and spotted a very young moon (just 3 days old): only 7% of the disk was illuminated. In fact, in a normal shot, the moon is all but invisible.
It's there but all but lost in the glow of sunset. I'll zoom in. The moon is at the top and centered.
I doubt it can see seen in the full-frame photo but it was visible to my eyes ... barely.
So, how young a moon can be seen? Here's Google's answer:
Around the time it is new, it is at most a very thin sliver and very close to the sun. The record documented observation of a young moon is 15.5 hours, and that was by a very experienced observer. To someone less experienced, it typically takes a day or two before or after the moment of new moon to spot it.
In any case, I think this is the youngest moon I've ever seen.
The moon was new on October 2 at 2:49 PM EDT. The view I had last evening was at about the 77 hours point. I can't imagine seeing it at 15.5 hours. I suppose that takes a telescope and knowing where to point it.
Later - about 9:45 pm - I went out again to see if the northern lights were visible. I saw nothing.
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