This appearance of Venus is finished.
Brilliant Morning Star Venus shines brightly in the morning sky during 2020 and early 2021.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Click here for our semi-technical article about the apparition of Venus during 2020-2021.
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Slideshow of Venus images
Articles:
- 2021, March 26: Venus at Superior Conjunction
- 2021, January: Venus Fades From Morning Sky
- 2020, December: Morning Star Venus in East
- 2020, November: Brilliant Morning Star Venus and Mercury
- 2020, October: Venus, Morning Star
- 2020, September: Venus Sparkles in Eastern Morning Sky
- 2020, August: Venus in Orion’s Arm and Gemini
- 2020, Venus at its Greatest Brightness
- 2020, July 19: Venus and Four Bright Morning Planets
- 2020, July: Venus Moves through Taurus
- Venus at Inferior Conjunction, June 3, 2020
- Venus as a Morning Star Diagram
- 2020, June: Venus Emerges Into the Morning Sky
Venus makes a grand entrance into the morning sky after its inferior conjunction on June 3, 2020, at 12:44 p.m. CDT. It races into the morning sky and a week after conjunction it rises at Civil Twilight, 32 minutes before sunrise. After mid-June, Venus gleams from low in the east-northeast sky during mid-twilight. By early July, Venus is at its greatest brightness, rises before the beginning of twilight, and appears higher in the sky as sunrise approaches.
During July, Venus moves through the Hyades, with an Aldebaran conjunction on July 12. Watch the planet move through the star cluster with a binocular, during several mornings leading up to the Venus – Aldebaran conjunction.
On July 19, the lunar crescent and five planets are simultaneously spread across the sky with Jupiter low in the western sky and Mercury low in the eastern sky. Venus, Mars, and Saturn are scattered between them.
During August, Venus leaves Taurus, passes through the club and arm area of Orion and into Gemini. On August 15, see the moon join Venus.
Other highlights of the Venus apparition include a grouping with the Beehive cluster in mid-September that includes the crescent moon on September 14; two mornings in October when Venus is about 0.5° from Regulus; a widely spaced Venus – Spica conjunction during mid-November; and an extremely close conjunction with Beta Scorpii in December. Mercury makes an appearance during November, but the gaps with Venus are very wide. At the end of the apparition, Venus passes Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter. Although they are near the sun, attempt to view the Venus – Jupiter Epoch (close) Conjunction during the day.
Venus reaches its superior conjunction on March 26, 2021, then slowly moves into the evening sky.
Recent Venus Articles
2026, May 20: Waxing Crescent Moon Near Jupiter as Venus Brightens the Evening Sky
May 20, 2026: See the waxing crescent moon near Jupiter after sunset while brilliant Venus shines in the west-northwest. Saturn climbs higher before sunrise as Mercury moves into the evening sky.
2026, May 19: Crescent Moon Between Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
May 19, 2026: See the crescent moon between brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset while Saturn climbs higher in the eastern sky before sunrise. Learn where and when to look.
2026, May 18: Closest Venus–Moon Conjunction of the Evening Apparition Lights the Western Sky
May 18, 2026: See the closest Venus–Moon conjunction of this evening apparition as brilliant Venus shines beside the crescent moon after sunset. Learn when and where to look.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, May 20: Waxing Crescent Moon Near Jupiter as Venus Brightens the Evening Sky
May 20, 2026: See the waxing crescent moon near Jupiter after sunset while brilliant Venus shines in the west-northwest. Saturn climbs higher before sunrise as Mercury moves into the evening sky. - 2026, May 19: Crescent Moon Between Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
May 19, 2026: See the crescent moon between brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset while Saturn climbs higher in the eastern sky before sunrise. Learn where and when to look. - 2026, May 18: Closest Venus–Moon Conjunction of the Evening Apparition Lights the Western Sky
May 18, 2026: See the closest Venus–Moon conjunction of this evening apparition as brilliant Venus shines beside the crescent moon after sunset. Learn when and where to look. - 2026, May 17-20: Waxing Crescent Moon Passes Venus and Jupiter in May Evening Sky
May 17-20, 2026: Watch the waxing crescent moon pass brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset. The May 18 Venus–Moon pairing is one of the prettiest sights of the planet’s 2026 evening apparition. - 2026, May 16: Three Bright Planets are in the Nighttime Sky as Venus Closes in on Jupiter
May 16, 2026: Saturn emerges from morning twilight while brilliant Venus advances toward Jupiter after sunset. Learn where to find the bright planets.
This viewer observes a very brilliant morning star, Venus, at approximately 05:30 AM eastern daylight time from his home in the northern Virginia county of Fauquier.