Skywatchers across the United States and parts of Canada observed a lunar occultation of Venus on Wednesday, June 17, when the Moon moved directly in front of the planet from Earth's perspective, briefly blocking it from view. A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon passes between an observer on Earth and another celestial object, temporarily obscuring it.
The event marked the first of three occultations of Venus scheduled for the year. Two additional occultations will occur in 2026: one on September 14, visible from parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and western Russia, and another on November 7, visible from southern South America.
