Who will be the first to spot the October New Moon with naked eyes after sunset? The Dark Moon will be in geocentric longitudinal conjunction with the Sun on 2009 OCT 18 at 05:33 UT (00:33 CDT). 

We’re still in the period surrounding the autumnal equinox in which really young Moon spotting is quite a challenge for northern hemisphere observers.  The first realistic opportunity for those of us in the north may come during the early evening of October 19, although many will have to wait until October 20.

I’ve created two graphics previewing the western sky from Chicagoland shortly after sunset on October 19 & 20, although they should well serve most North American observers.  They can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical

Photos and descriptions of the October New Moon would be welcome additions to this thread. Please include the date, time, time zone and location. Good Luck!

Below is a photo I took from Arlington Heights, Illinois of the Moon aged 2.0 days on 2007 SEP 13.

CG

At 6:30PM EDT I spotted the Moon in the Southwest. More South than West. It was a sliver of a Moon about the size in your photo. I tried to snap some pictures but there were too many clouds floating by, and could not get a good picture. I did take some, and will try and post in the next day or so.

CG

Thanks for your report, CG.  Glad you got to see Diana’s Bow (as in bow & arrow).  That’s the traditional name for a three-day-old Moon.  Diana was the ancient Roman goddess of both hunting and the Moon.  At this time of year from mid-northern latitudes, that’s usually the earliest that the Moon can be seen easily following its conjunction with the Sun.  In early spring we can often spot the Moon aged about one-day.  In that photo of mine in the initial post taken 25 months ago, the Moon was two-days-old.  That Moon set very shortly after the Sun, but the weather gods were helpful.