March 29, 2026: Venus and Jupiter are visible after sunset, moving toward a June 9 conjunction. Follow Venus near Hamal and Jupiter near Castor and Pollux.
A Venus–Jupiter conjunction occurs on June 9. Look for these two planets after sunset to watch the gap close. Jupiter appears farther westward each week, while Venus moves eastward in front of the background stars.
Venus in West
At 45 minutes after sunset, brilliant Venus is nearly 10° above the western horizon. It outshines all other starlike bodies and is visible through the colorful hues of evening twilight.
Venus crosses the Pisces–Aries border tonight, appearing in front of Aries until April 19. It is nearly 15° to the lower left of Hamal, the constellation’s brightest star. Use a binocular to find the star. The Evening Star passes Hamal in a wide conjunction on April 5.
Jupiter With Gemini Twins
At this hour, bright Jupiter is high in the south-southwest, over 75° to Venus’ upper left. The Jovian Giant slowly moves eastward in front of Gemini, near Castor and Pollux — the Twins. It passes Castor in a wide conjunction on May 11, followed by a Pollux conjunction on May 28.
Jupiter moves eastward at a nightly rate of 0.11°, while Venus moves nearly 12 times faster. Note their relative positions each clear evening.
Moon near Regulus
Approaching the Full Moon phase, the lunar orb is in the southeast, 3.5° to Regulus’ lower left, the brightest star in Leo. Earlier tonight, the moon occulted (eclipsed) the star for sky watchers across Europe, northern Africa, and northeastern Canada.
The Lion faces westward. We see it in silhouette angling upward in the east-southeast. The Sickle of Leo, a backward question mark shape, outlines the head. A triangle to the lower left marks the haunches and tail, with Denebola as the easternmost star. In this moonlight, use a binocular to trace the Lion’s outline.
Look for Venus and Jupiter after sunset. During the next several weeks, watch Venus overtake Jupiter. The bright moon is in front of Leo in the southeastern sky.
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