Crescent Moon Covers Spica (pre-dawn)

For observers located in a zone covering most of the eastern continental USA and Canada, the old, waning crescent moon will pass in front of (or occult) Virgo’s brightest star, Spica shortly after it has cleared the trees in the east on Wednesday morning, November 27 before sunrise. Use an app like Starry Night to look up the times for the occultation. In New York City, Spica will disappear behind the moon’s lit crescent at about 5:35 a.m. EST. The star will pop into view from behind the dark limb of the moon in a brightening sky around 6:50 a.m. EST. Lunar occultations are safe to view you’re your unaided eyes. Binoculars or any size of telescope will show it best. Start watching a few minutes before each stage of the event.