Starwatch: a tiny sliver of moon between Venus and Jupiter

New moon will be the thinnest of all crescents with just 5% of its surface illuminated

A reward awaits those making their way home, or elsewhere, in the evening later this week. The chart shows the view looking due west from London at 18.50 GMT on Thursday 23 March. The tiny sliver of the new moon will sit between the brightly shining planets of Venus and Jupiter.

The former will be high in the twilight sky and in full bloom", so to speak, for its spring apparition. The latter will be sinking ever closer to the sun, and hence will need to clear the western horizon to be visible.