Woke up early this morning and took a few photos in the mountains. Despite the cloudy forecast, the sun, moon and Venus were all visible on this first day that many around the world observe the Festival of Lights.
This morning there was a lunar occultation which happens when the moon passed in front of Venus. Venus has passed behind the moon several times this year, but Monday was the first time that it was visible in the United States. Once the moon moved in front of Venus, it took a little over an hour for the planet to emerge from the other side.
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| The moon and the morning star (Venus) just before the moon passed in front of the planet on December 7, 2015 |
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| Photo taken at almost 10,000 feet elevation of the sunrise this morning (December 7, 2015) |
