On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese people looked up at the sky and saw a strange phenomenon: It won't happen again until the year 2132!

According to the Hanoi Astronomical Society (HAS), the twilight sky on the third day of the Lunar New Year , February 19th, will feature a fascinating phenomenon as the crescent moon "meets" with the planets.

Don't miss the spring sky to see so many interesting things.

ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO: HHT TRAN (TRAN HAI HUY TRUONG)

At this time, the thin crescent moon at the beginning of the month, only 7% illuminated, will shine in the west-southwest after sunset, at a distance of only about 4° from Saturn. Below, Mercury reaches its maximum elongation to the east, the furthest angular distance from the sun during this appearance, making this the best viewing opportunity for it in the near future.

Look for Mercury about 10° above the horizon approximately 45 minutes after sunset. Venus will be twinkling near the horizon below Mercury, but you'll need a clear, flat area to see it clearly.

And there are many more interesting things to do on the evening of the third day of Tet.

If you have binoculars, point them right next to Saturn. Neptune is "hiding" less than 1° away, making this the closest encounter between the two planets until 2132.

Don't forget to look for the soft, earthy light illuminating the dark side of the moon. This "conjunction of small planets," located at the boundary between the constellations Aquarius and Pisces, is a sight you definitely don't want to miss.

Further information regarding Mercury observations, according to experts, indicates that during spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the ecliptic is almost vertical relative to the western horizon, making this the most beautiful evening appearance of Mercury in 2026.

The golden moment is approaching; at 9:34 PM tonight, Mercury will reach its maximum elongation, 18° east of the sun. This is precisely when the tiny planet is furthest from the bright twilight, offering a golden opportunity for those wishing to spot it in the sky.

The crescent moon has a "date" with the planets tonight.

PHOTO: TRAN GIA THIEU

From the beginning of February, Mercury appeared with an apparent magnitude of about -1.0. When it reached its maximum elongation, it would be approximately magnitude 0, visually superior to most stars in the sky! But don't be complacent. Soon after, Mercury will dim very quickly as it hurtles towards the area between the Earth and the Sun.

Early next month, it will disappear from the dark sky and reach synodic status on March 7th. What will you see through a telescope? With a telescope, at its maximum elongation, Mercury will appear as a small, illuminated "half-moon" about 48% and approximately 7.18 arcseconds wide – an interesting target for those with a passion for planet-hunting.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mung-3-tet-nguoi-viet-nhin-len-troi-thay-hien-tuong-la-nam-2132-moi-co-lai-185260219080247349.htm