April 1, 2026: Venus brightens the western sky after sunset during April 2026. Watch it move from Aries into Taurus, pass the Pleiades, and appear near the crescent moon.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:33 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:16 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
Venus as an Evening Star
Venus after Sunset
The Evening Star is becoming easier to see. During April, Venus climbs higher in the western sky after sunset, standing noticeably above the horizon with each passing evening. The springtime sky favors evening observing, with the ecliptic angled steeply to the horizon, lifting the planet higher into darker skies.
Step outside about an hour after sunset. Look toward the west to west-northwest horizon. Venus shines brightly, unmistakable against the fading twilight. A clear view in that direction is important. A hilltop or a high floor in an elevated building assists with the view.
Early in the month, Venus appears in front of Aries. It steps eastward each evening, passing the constellation’s brighter stars in widely spaced conjunctions. The planet is bright enough to be seen without optical aid, although a binocular helps place it among the background stars.
On April 18 and 19, the crescent moon appears nearby. The thin lunar phase points toward Venus, making the planet easy to locate in bright twilight. The two are well placed for evening viewing, although they are too far apart to fit into the same binocular field.
Venus with Taurus
On April 19, Venus steps into Taurus. The background becomes richer with stars, and a binocular is useful for following the planet from night to night.
On April 23, Venus passes the Pleiades. During the same evening, it is in conjunction with Uranus, although the distant planet is difficult to see in twilight.
During the final week of April, Venus continues eastward in front of Taurus, passing the Hyades star cluster and moving nearer to Aldebaran. The planet does not travel through the “V” shape of the cluster, but it appears nearby, set against the rich starfield.
From April 25 through April 30, Venus and Sirius appear at nearly the same altitude about an hour after sunset. The comparison highlights Venus’ steady brilliance against the brightest star in the night sky.
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