Moon and Venus to align in uncommon conjunction. Here's how to see it

• Venus and the moon will appear close together in the sky on the night of May 18 in an event known as a conjunction.
• A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear near one another from our perspective on Earth.
• The moon will be a thin, waxing crescent, making it visible without outshining the brightly lit Venus.
• This celestial event will be visible across the U.S. in the western sky, and no special equipment is needed to see it.

In April, NASA's Artemis II astronauts ventured near the moon and returned some stunning new photos of our closest celestial neighbor.

Now, the moon is about to have more company for one night in May, and skygazers should easily be able to see it.

Venus will join the moon May 18 in a cosmic event known as a conjunction. The meet-up presents spectators with a rare opportunity to see a phenomenon in which at least two celestial bodies appear from our vantage on Earth to be near one another.

The conjunction, which will be widely visible across the U.S. and around the world, is the latest time that Venus and the moon have had a rendezvous in Earth's sky. Venus, which in March appeared with Saturn, also formed a conjunction with the moon in September.

Here's everything to know about the upcoming moon and Venus conjunction, including the lunar phase and a cloud forecast.

What is a conjunction?

A conjunction is an astronomical event in which at least two planets – or, in this case, a planet and a moon – appear to our vantage from Earth to be close together in the sky.

Even though the planets are in reality still tens of millions – or even billions – of miles apart, the events present a special opportunity for astronomers and casual stargazers to see multiple worlds in our solar system at one time.

So, what causes conjunctions to take place?

As planets in our solar system orbit the sun at varying speeds, sometimes their orbital paths bring them close together on the same side of the sun. When this event lines up with our view from Earth, we get a conjunction, according to the nonprofit Planetary Society.

When is the conjunction? See Venus, moon together in sky

The moon and Venus are due to have a cosmic meetup that should be visible Monday, May 18, to us here on Earth,  NASA said in a monthly skywatching guide.

Those who look up that night have not only a chance at seeing Venus – one of the brightest objects in the sky, after the sun – but a crescent moon that is just bright enough to be seen without stealing the show.

How full will the moon be? What to know about lunar phase

By May 18, the moon will be just about 5% full and in a waxing crescent phase, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. That means just a thing silver sliver of Earth's only natural satellite will be illuminated as most of its near-facing side faces away from our planet, NASA explains.

Will cloudy weather spoil the conjunction? What to know about forecast

Of course, clouds in the sky could also hamper the view.

The National Weather Service shared a graphic showing cloud cover on the night of Monday, May 18, when the conjunction would be seen.

Blue shading indicates clear skies, while the grayer the shading and higher the percentage numbers, the higher the chance for clouds.

Where, how can you see celestial conjunction in May? Tips

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the U.S., spotting the conjunction shouldn't prove too difficult.

Simply locate the moon in the western sky, and Venus should shine brightly underneath it.

Want to find a dark area near you? DarkSky International is a U.S nonprofit that maintains a list of designated dark sky communities around the world, including 174 in the United States.

Do you need a telescope to see Saturn next to the moon in the sky?

Telescopes certainly will enhance the view but spectators don't need any equipment to spot the moon and Venus in the pre-dawn sky.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]