The Moon will be illuminated about 15% (as compared to a full Moon), looking like a thin crescent shaped body. Venus, which has been in the western sky at twilight since December 2006, will be the brightest planet in the night sky. It will remain visible until about three or so hours after sunset.

Observers of the Moon and Venus may also be able to see the outline of the hidden portion of the Moon—what is called Earthshine.

The planet Mercury should also be seen below the pair, near the horizon, once the Sun has set. Once Mercury sets in the west-northwest sky, the planet Jupiter will rise in the east-southeast. Jupiter will be the third brightest object in the night sky, after the Moon and Venus. As the Moon-Venus pair descends toward the horizon in the western sky, Jupiter will rise in the eastern sky.

The Moon is about 375,000 kilometers (233,000 miles) away from the Earth, while Venus is about 130 million kilometers (80.9 million miles)—about 347 times further away than the Moon.

Most people in North America will see the Moon-Venus pair about one degree apart, with the apparent diameter of the Moon being about one-half degree.

For specific cities across North America, the time to see the two bodies closest together is: Boston, Massachusetts and Montreal, Quebec: 10:56 EDT; Chicago, Illinois: 10:06 p.m. CDT; Austin, Texas: 10:26 p.m. CDT; Winnipeg, Manitoba: 9:55 p.m. CDT; Tucson, Arizona: 8:26 p.m. MST; and Los Angeles, California: 8:25 p.m. PDT.

{moscomment}