December 17, 2020: Venus is low in the southeast before sunrise, near the star Graffias, Beta Scorpii, one day before its conjunction with the star. This morning conjunction is about the same separation as the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:13 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:21 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
This morning, brilliant Venus continues as “that bright star” in the east before sunrise. One hour before the sun rises, the planet is about 10° up in the southeast. It is approaching the star Graffias (β Sco), the Crab, in Scorpius. The separation is 1.1°, with Venus to the upper right of the star.
The planet is near the Libra-Scorpius border. Tomorrow Venus is 0.1° from the star, a sample of the proximity of Jupiter and Saturn’s Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020.
Use a binocular to initially locate the star near Venus and then attempt to look for it without optical help.
Detailed Note: Before sunrise, find brilliant Venus about 10° up in the southeast, 1.1° to the upper right of β Sco.
See our summary about Venus during December 2020 and the feature article about Venus as a Morning Star.
Read more about the planets during December.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, April 18-20: Venus, Crescent Moon, and Pleiades in the Western Sky
April 28-20, 2026: A waxing crescent moon joins Venus and the Pleiades after sunset. Look west-northwest to follow their changing positions and catch earthshine. - 2026, April 17: Arcturus and Spica Shine in the Eastern Sky After Sunset
April 17, 2026: Two bright stars, Arcturus and Spica, anchor the eastern sky after sunset while Venus and Jupiter shine in the west. Use this guide to locate them and understand their motion. - 2026, April 16: Venus and Jupiter After Sunset, Moon Near New Phase in Morning Twilight
April 16, 2026: Venus shines in the west-northwest after sunset while Jupiter stands high in the west-southwest. The moon nears New phase, hidden in bright morning twilight. - 2026, April 15: Venus and Jupiter After Sunset, Crescent Moon Low Before Sunrise
April 15, 2026: Venus and Jupiter shine after sunset while a thin crescent moon sits low before sunrise. Track Venus moving toward the Pleiades and Aldebaran. - 2026, April 14: Venus Dominates the Evening Sky with Sirius and Orion
April 14, 2026: Venus shines brightly after sunset while Sirius twinkles in the southwest. Orion stands between them as the spring sky shifts westward each evening.