I went out last night (just 5 days before the Venus Transit) to try to see the thin crescent of Venus just about 9 degrees away from the sun.

A thin cloud layer was visible as the sun was setting, but thicker bands made it a most enjoyable sunset to view. Then my search started to find the planet.

No luck naked eye, but as soon as I trained my telescope to the region I thought it would be it popped right into view. A thin 5% crescent, wavering in the turbulent atmosphere.

I imaged it till about 8:40 when it disappeared over the horizon, but not after a distant jet came into view to make the picture even better, with it’s colorful contrail from the setting sun.