Starwatch: the evening star meets the new moon

Another lunar cycle begins on Thursday as the thin crescent moon shares the evening sky with glittering Venus

There is a beautiful sight to keep an eye open for after sunset on 17 May. Venus is visible in the evening sky as a glittering, unmistakeable "evening star". It will be joined by the thin crescent of the new moon, creeping eastward from the sun to begin a new lunar month.