He’s back…
After what was essentially a winter sabbatical, not seen since the beginning of December, Venus – the brightest of the naked-eye planets – is now fully back in view. After spending most of 2025 as a morning object, Venus has now settled into a dominant position”the evening star“For the next five months, it changes into the shape of the western sky.
Venus passed superior conjunction (appears to move behind the sun as seen from Earth) late on January 6. Until mid-February it was out of sight, bathed in the bright sunlight. However, as each day passed, it moved slowly towards the east and gradually moved away from the sun’s position.
In March, Venus rose rapidly from the bright twilight, becoming the brightest “stars”. The time between sunset and sunset of Venus during the month has increased from about 60 minutes to about 100 minutes. In the last week of March, Venus began to set after the end of starry nightthat is, in a completely dark sky, the situation will continue until the end of August.
Alignment with Uranus and the Pleiades
As a bonus for Venus watchers, on April 23, you can use Venus as a pointer to find a planet. Uranus. That evening, Venus passes just three degrees to the right of Uranus. Venus will be bright size -3.9 compared to +5.8 magnitude Uranus: a magnitude difference of about 7,700 times! But this close approach will serve as an easy opportunity to identify Uranus with a small telescope without the need to look at a sky map. The seventh planet from the sun appears as a green spot of light with good binoculars or a small telescope. Wait until about 75 minutes after sunset, but be aware that at that time the planet duo will be very low, only 10 degrees above west-northwest.
Also that evening, Venus approaches the famous Pleiades the constellation, passing about 3½ degrees to the lower left, makes a good view in binoculars. In fact, you’ll probably be able to fit all three objects, Venus, Uranus and the Pleiades into the field of view of most standard 7-power telescopes.
June meeting
With each passing week, Venus rises each evening to grace the western evening sky from early spring to midsummer.
In early June, it will rise about 30 degrees from sunset and set 2 hours and 40 minutes after sunset. Interestingly, the planet’s greatest height at sunset will also occur at this time, when ecliptic (the apparent path of the sun, moon and planets throughout the year) is relatively straight with respect to the western hemisphere for observers at northern latitudes.
Also in June, Venus will be part of a “heavenly summit” of sorts, as the three planets dance and dance. month offers evening magic this month. One hour after sunset on June 9, Venus will meet the Jupiter; This powerful duo draws attention to it low in the north-west sky, separated by only 1.8 degrees. On the 16th, a thin moon appears to the right of Jupiter, while below the moon floats a bright third planet. Mercury. The following evening, the supermoon passes to the left of Venus. And all the time, in the same place in general, it seems that watching this amazing show will be Pollux and Castor, two stars marking the heads of Gemini Twins.
On July 9, Venus passes less than one degree above bluish Regulusthe brightest star of Leo, the Lion. Seven days later, although it is far apart on Friday, July 17, Venus and the thin moon (17% bright) will make for an eye-catching sight in the western sky.
A slow rise to prominence; then exit quickly
Venus reaches its greatest longitude — its greatest angular distance — 46 degrees to the east of the sun — on Aug. 15, although it will appear 10 degrees lower compared to where it was during the spring. It is brightest in late summer when it recedes from the sun, reaching its brightest (greatest magnificence) for this appearance on the evening of September 18 at magnitude -4.8. However, by then, it will be only 10 degrees at sunset and will be setting in just an hour after sunset. In the last week of September, as it sets rapidly each night, it will appear as a relatively large and thin moon. In the middle of the northern latitude, we will have to struggle to catch him in the west-southwest just after sunset in the last days of the month.
Venus then quickly falls back to the sun, vanishes in early October, and passes low on Oct. 24.
Morning “night light”
In November, it rises in the eastern sky before dawn to an even greater height in the morning skies of December. If you have a clear view in the east-southeast, look down on November 7, about an hour before sunrise, to see a thin moon pass below bright Venus – and nearby, a blue first-magnitude star. Spica to The Virgin of the Virgin.
And Christmas 2026 will see Venus mimicking modern times Star of Bethlehemwhich appears as the “eastern star” that shines before sunrise.
Through a telescope
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Between now and October, frequent observations of Venus with a small telescope will show all of its forms categories and disk size. Currently, the planet appears saturated (93% illuminated by the sun); a small, shiny disc. It will begin to weaken on July 17. On Aug. 12, Venus reaches a dichotomy (showing a “half moon” shape). Then, for the rest of the year, it appears as a supermoon as it moves closer to Earth. Indeed, those using telescopes will notice that although the Earth-Venus distance is decreasing, the apparent size of the disk of Venus will grow, doubling from its current size in Aug. 3. When it has doubled again in size on Sept. 23, its large crescent shape should be easily visible even with binoculars with a power of 7.
If you are looking for a telescope or telescopes to watch the night skyour guides for best binocular interactions and go best telescope deals it can help. Ours the best astrophotography cameras and the best lenses for astrophotography it can help you prepare to capture your next amazing skydiving experience.
Joe Rao works as a lecturer and guest lecturer in New York’s Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astrology for Magazine of Natural History, The Sky and the Telescope, Old Farmer’s Almanac and other articles.
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