The moon cruises near the ecliptic coming close to all the planets and many bright stars. Now and then -- surprisingly rarely, actually -- it passes directly in front of a truly bright star or planet. Here, the planet Venus has just emerged from behind the dim limb of the waning crescent moon.

My "first born" telescope is in the foreground, currently on loan to Juanita Simpson in her eclectic home near Tucson.

Table Scraps.