Occultation of Venus by the Moon. Montage of nine images forming a sequence running left to right from top left to bottom right, showing Venus (small dot) passing behind a waning crescent Moon. Occultations by the Moon of observable background objects is relatively common, with several bright stars and planets passing behind the Moon several times a year, but the combination of a crescent Moon and an occulation of Venus is relatively rare. The actual occultation time is about 20 minutes, but the approach time shown here is longer. This occultation of Venus by the Moon took place on 26 December 1978.