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[Galaxy]

Hello astronomers. I am on another site called Iamhaunted.com
In a blog there someone questioned what the bright light was near the moon on March 20. They also wonder if the upside down crescent was due to the equinox. Can you help?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Cathy,

I am pretty sure what was seen on the 20th was a conjunction of the crescent Moon and Venus. Resident lunar expert Curt, should chime in soon confirming this.

Compare what you posted to images posted by our members in proper orientation:

astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Astrophotraphy&thread=1174442352&page=1

astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Astrophotraphy&thread=1174442352&page=1

astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Lunar&thread=1174443635&page=1

I don't know how much the image you posted has been processed, but the star does not seem as bright as Venus should have been and a yellow tinge to it...perhaps to add some drama.

The crescent phase position of the Moon does not have any referrence to the recent equinox, (spring), which is a solar/Earth relationship.

What's going on at the haunted site?

[Centaur]

Indeed, that was Venus. That's my photo of the Moon and Venus taken on March 20 seen in the Tranquility Base (lunar) forum that Joe directed you to. I'm not certain what is meant by "upside-down", but the nearness to the Vernal Equinox was indeed an important factor in the crescent's position.

Remember, the thick portion of the crescent always points toward the Sun which provides the lighting. At this time of year at mid-northern latitudes the ecliptic extends upward almost vertically in the west after sunset. Thus the thick part of the crescent points nearly straight downward and only slightly to the right. Around the Autumnal Equinox, the thick portion of the crescent points more to the right and only slightly downward, as the ecliptic is hitting the horizon at a fairly sharp angle.

The observer's latitude is also a major factor. Folks near the Tropic of Cancer would've seen the thick portion of the crescent pointing virtually straight down on the 20th. Those further south would have seen it pointing at varying degrees toward the left.

I should add that the ecliptic is the path the Sun appears to trace against the starry background over the course of the year as the Earth orbits it. The Moon's path remains within about 6° of the ecliptic. At this time of the year at sunset the ecliptic is pointing up toward where the Sun will be at Noon on the Summer Solstice. In September it will be pointing more toward the left where the Sun will be at Noon on the Winter Solstice.