A thin crescent moon appears low in the southwestern sky on Monday night. The moon is moving from the zodiacal constellation Cancer into Leo.

On Tuesday night, more of us will see the moon as it is higher in the western sky. It sets in the west later. Take a closer look and you’ll see the moon close to the bright star Regulus, the principal star in Leo. The two are so close as to be missed.

Regulus is one of the brightest stars in this area of the sky but on this night it pales in brightness when compared to the larger and more brilliant moon. For those living at the other side of the Earth, there is a treat tonight. In places like Hawaii and in parts of South America, the moon occults the bright star. The moon appears to pass over and extinguish Regulus.

Jupiter, the brightest planet in the night sky appears fairly high in the southeastern sky after sunset. Jupiter is in the zodiacal constellation Virgo, a short distance from the bright star Spica.