September 8, 2025: Brilliant Venus shines in the morning sky near Regulus, with Jupiter and Saturn visible higher up. The bright Corn Moon appears near Saturn, while Uranus and Neptune fade in moonlight. After sunset, Mars retreats into twilight.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:24 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:12 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 Approaches Regulus
Brilliant Venus approaches Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, as the star makes its first morning appearance or heliacal rising at the mid-northern latitudes. The bright morning moon light washes out views of Neptune and Uranus. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are easy to see.
- At 45 minutes before sunrise, The Morning Star is nearly 20° above the eastern horizon, or about one-fifth of the way from the horizon to overhead. It is less than 15° to the upper right of Regulus, over 6° above the horizon. Each morning, the star is higher in the sky. From a view with an unobstructed horizon, use a binocular to initially identify Regulus.
- On September 19th, Venus overtakes Regulus and passes by in a close conjunction. The moon joins for a tight grouping that can be covered by your thumb extended to arm’s length.
- Look for Venus and Sirius at nearly the same altitude – height about the horizon, although they are 45° apart in the sky.
- This morning, bright Jupiter is less than 30° to Venus’ upper right. Jupiter slowly moves eastward in front of Gemini, 8.0° to the upper right of Pollux, one of the Twins.
- The Corn Moon is over 15° above the west-southwest horizon, and less than 6° to Saturn’s lower right.
- Mercury retreats into bright twilight and is not visible.
Evening Sky
- Mars is not visible as it slides into western evening twilight.
- At two hours after sundown, the bright moon is over 15° up in the east and 6.3° to the left of Saturn.
During the night, Saturn, Moon, and stars seem to move westward, as the bright moon revolves eastward, opening a wider gap to the Ringed Wonder.
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