Sussex stargazers spot moon next to planet Venus in sky

The Argus’s Camera Club members captured some stunning shots of the moon next to the planet Venus last night, January 3.

The planet, also known as the Evening Star, could have easily been mistaken for another star as it shone brightly alongside the waxing crescent moon.

Snappers Joanna Kaczorowska, Annette Routledge, Martin Mutungi-Collins and Dawn Bailey shared their impressive pictures of the unusual celestial phenomenon, from Bognor to Brighton.

Dawn said the sight of the moon and Venus together was ‘amazing’ (Image: Dawn Bailey) January is set to be a beautiful month for stargazing, with the Quadrantid meteor shower, which began on December 26, taking place until January 12.

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Dr Robert Massey, deputy director of the Royal Astronomical Society, said those hoping to catch a glimpse of the celestial fireworks after sunset will need to get “as far away from light pollution as possible”.

He said the showers “have a pretty strong intensity if you happen to be in the right place at the right time”.

The moon and Venus over The Basketmakers Arms in Brighton (Image: Annette Routledge) Dr Massey added: “They won’t be the brightest meteors on the whole, but (the Quadrantids) do include a fair number of fireballs.

“A fireball is a dramatic sounding thing but what it really means is a really bright meteor.”

The shower is thought to have peaked last night, with observers able to spot up to 50 “shooting stars” an hour.