September 1, 2025: Venus steps eastward in front of Cancer, passing the Beehive cluster and aligning with Sirius in morning twilight. Watch the planet move toward Leo.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:17 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:24 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
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Venus Summary Article
Venus shines brightly in the eastern sky before sunrise during early September. The planet continues its steady eastward trek in front of the background stars, offering several easy-to-see alignments with bright stars and clusters. A binocular helps to see its close pass with the Beehive star cluster, while its equal altitude with Sirius creates a striking balance in the dawn sky.
Highlights
September 1:
Venus, stepping eastward in front of Cancer, is 20° to Jupiter’s lower left. Through a binocular, the Morning Star is 1.3° to the lower right of the Beehive star cluster (Messier 44, also known as Praesepe).
During the evening, the 76% illuminated moon is low in the south, near the Teapot’s spout. It stands 2.0° from Alnasl and less than 10° from Shaula and Lesath at the Scorpion’s tail. A binocular sweep highlights the Teapot’s region.
September 2–3:
Venus passes and moves away from Asellus Australis, a star in Cancer’s body. After sunset, check out the evening moon as it waxes and moves eastward each night.
September 4–9:
For six mornings, Venus and Sirius appear at nearly the same altitude during morning twilight. Although 45° apart in the sky, the brightest planet and the brightest star dominate the eastern view.
September 10:
Venus crosses the border into Leo, continuing its steady eastward steps.
During the first half of September, Venus offers striking views as it glides past Cancer’s star cluster and balances with Sirius across the morning sky. Each morning brings a small shift, making it worth checking often with the unaided eye and a binocular.
Looking Ahead
In the weeks ahead, Venus continues eastward through Leo, heading toward a late-September meeting with Regulus. The Morning Star remains the brightest object in the morning sky, guiding observers toward autumn’s changing constellations.
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