Venus, Mars and Crescent Moon over San Ramon.

View from Windemere area of San Ramon early Friday evening February 20. Nearest to the crescent moon is Mars with Venus below it. Saturday night will be the nearest earth perspective passing of the two planets until 2017. The dim surface area on the moon showing outside the direct sunlight is known as earthshine. This is the light that reflects off the earth from the sun and very slightly illuminates the remaining disk of the moon.

Photo and description by Steve Fenton