“When the two were closest, they were just 2.5 degrees apart, making it easier for the common man to spot them,” said Arvind Paranjpye, scientific officer, public outreach programme, Inter-University for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).

The Moon and Venus rose together around 10 am, but were visible only at 12.40 pm because of the cloudy sky. Later, the two were, however, clearly visible till around 3 pm after which the sky again turned cloudy, Paranjpye said. Those who missed the sight during day time also got a chance at dusk. “As it got darker, viewers could see a magnificent view of the Moon and Venus next to each other above the western horizon,” he said.

“Although it is not a rare phenomenon, it was much clearer this time,” said Priyanka Vasudevan, an avid sky gazer who has witnessed it earlier in 2007. The crescent of the Moon looked beautiful beside Venus, a small illuminated dot. The event was visible with a small pair of binoculars.