The chart above displays the setting time of Venus (green curve) compared to sunset. The three phases of twilight are displayed as well. The setting time differences are displayed for bright stars near the ecliptic as well as other bright planets. The moonset interval is displayed with circles. The rising time difference – compared to sunset – is displayed for Jupiter and Saturn as well. When the planets rise at sunset, they are at opposition.
Venus as an Evening Star, semi-technical summary.
Saturn’s opposition with Venus is displayed as a brown box on the Saturn Rising line. A yellow box on the Jupiter Rising line indicates a similar event, Venus – Jupiter opposition. In the evening, when two planets are at opposition, opposite sides of Earth, one is rising as the other sets. A week or so after these dates Saturn, then Jupiter, appear in the eastern sky as Venus shines from the west. In this study of Venus, this trio is in the sky together during evening hours until nearly the end of its evening appearance during early 2022.
When the Venus curve crosses another line, Venus and that celestial object set at the same time. Conjunctions occur near this date. White boxes on the charts indicate conjunctions with stars and other planets. The yellow triangle, with the letters “GE,” indicates the greatest elongation dates of Venus and Mercury.
The setting chart is from data by the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Multiyear Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA) for Chicago, Illinois. Make any appropriate adjustments for different latitudes. Time intervals after sunset are used in the following notes for observers to determine the appropriate observing clock time at their locations.
Venus as an Evening Star Article
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- 2026, May 15: Venus Closes the Gap to Jupiter While Saturn Emerges Before Sunrise
May 15, 2026: Saturn emerges from bright morning twilight near a thin crescent moon, while Venus moves eastward between Taurus’ horns and closes in on Jupiter after sunset. - 2026, May 14: Venus Closes in on Jupiter While a Crescent Moon Guides Saturn Before Sunrise
May 14, 2026: A waning crescent moon points to Saturn before sunrise, while Venus moves past Taurus’ horns and closes the gap to Jupiter in the evening sky. - 2026, May 13: Crescent Moon Meets Saturn Before Sunrise While Venus Passes Taurus’ Horns Toward Jupiter
May 13, 2026: A thin crescent moon guides Saturn’s first morning appearance, while Venus passes between Taurus’ horns and closes in on Jupiter in the evening sky. - 2026, May 12: Saturn Returns before Sunrise, Crescent Moon Guides the Ringed Planet While Venus Targets Jupiter
May 12, 2026: Saturn makes its first morning appearance as a crescent moon guides the way before sunrise, while Venus moves between Taurus’ horns toward Jupiter after sunset. - 2026, May 11-15: Venus Between Taurus’ Horns as it Closes in on Jupiter
May 11-15, 2026: Venus passes between Taurus’ horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri, while closing the gap to Jupiter in the western sky after sunset.
How do you make these maps? They are brilliant!
The rising and setting charts are made from data from the US Naval Observatory’s computer program, MICA. The data is then plotted with Microsoft Excel. Captions and comments are then added with text boxes. Thanks for the compliment.