See the moon and Venus shining side by side

The waxing crescent moon and Venus paired up Wednesday, creating a delightful spectacle in the evening sky.

The duo will again appear close together Thursday evening, although clouds may impair viewing opportunities. The bright star Regulus should be visible just above the moon, according to EarthSky.

Below Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury will also be present, though they may be more difficult to spot.

"Mercury will be the hardest to find because it is dimmer than Venus and Jupiter and sits lowest in the sky," writes AccuWeather. "Even so, it should still be visible without binoculars or a telescope under clear conditions.

Friday evening will offer another opportunity to see the moon and Venus, though they will be a bit farther apart. The pair is separating after the moon passed directly in front of Venus on Wednesday in an event known as an occultation. The occultation was visible in the DC area during the afternoon.

The moon-Venus pairing follow a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on June 8.

Find more reader photos of the moon-Venus duo below.