Celestial Trio: Mars, Venus, and Moon Visible on Summer Solstice

This year's Summer Solstice will feature a rare celestial alignment of Earth, Mars, and Venus, visible in the night sky close to the crescent Moon. The parts of the Moon usually hidden by lunar night will glow with an eerie light called Earthshine, caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth's atmosphere and then off the Moon's surface. A small telescope or binoculars can provide a better view of the lunar surface, including mountains and craters. The alignment can be seen on Thursday evening, with Venus clearly visible and Mars slightly harder to spot.