The bright moon and planet Venus shine over the city of Truckee, Calif., on Dec. 26, 2011 in this photo by skywatcher David Smoyer.
Astrophotographer Jeffrey Berkes of West Chester, Pa., snapped this stunning view of planet Venus and the crescent moon during a bright conjunction on Dec. 26, 2011.
The crescent moon and Venus shine bright over the Housatonic River in Kent, Conn., on Dec. 26, 2011 during a dazzling conjunction. This photo was taken by skywatcher Scott Tully.
Skywatcher Ted Mauerer caught this extra bright Christmas lights display on Dec. 26, 2011, when Venus and the moon were shining bright together over his Texas neighborhood.
Skywatcher Ted Mauerer snapped this eye-catching image on Dec. 26, 2011, when Venus and the moon were shining bright together over his Texas neighborhood.
The crescent moon and Venus shine near each other on Dec. 26, 2011 during a bright conjunction captured here by skywatcher David Smoyer of Truckee, Calif.
The crescent moon of Dec. 26, 2011 is partially illuminated by light reflected from Earth (Earthshine) in this view during its conjunction with Venus as seen by skywatcher Pat Curry on Dec. 26, 2011 from Chester County, Pa.
Skywatcher Scott Tully snapped this amazing view of the crescent moon on Dec. 28, 2011 while the moon appeared close to the planet Venus at sunset. The moon's dark section is illuminated by light reflected from Earth, called Earthshine.
An airplane flies across a purple twilight sky with the crescent moon bright in the background on Dec. 26, 2011 in this photo by skywatcher David Smoyer.
Astrophotographer Jeffrey Berkes of West Chester, Pa., snapped this stunning view of planet Venus and the crescent moon during a bright conjunction on Dec. 26, 2011.
The crescent moon and Venus shine bright on Dec. 26, 2011 as daylight wanes in Chester County, Pa., in this photo snapped by skywatcher Pat Curry.
Astrophotographer Jeffrey Berkes of West Chester, Pa., snapped this stunning view of planet Venus and the crescent moon during a bright conjunction on Dec. 26, 2011.
Skywatcher David Smoyer in Truckee, Calif., snapped this dazzling view of the moon and Venus just after sunset on Dec. 26, 2011 during a bright conjunction.
Astrophotographer Jeffrey Berkes of West Chester, Pa., snapped this stunning view of planet Venus and the crescent moon during a bright conjunction on Dec. 26, 2011.
The crescent moon and Venus shine bright over the Housatonic River in Kent, Conn., on Dec. 26, 2011 during a dazzling conjunction. This photo was taken by skywatcher Scott Tully.
Skywatcher Casey Stanford captured this image of the moon and Venus from Mesa, Ariz. "I was reading the article on Space.com about the moon and Venus being in conjunction, and figured I'd send in a couple [photographs] that I snapped myself on December 26," Stanford wrote in an e-mail.
