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.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, May 21: Crescent Moon Near the Beehive Cluster with Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
May 21, 2026: See the crescent moon near the Beehive Cluster after sunset while brilliant Venus and Jupiter shine in the western sky. Saturn appears before sunrise in the east. - 2026, May 20: Waxing Crescent Moon Near Jupiter as Venus Brightens the Evening Sky
May 20, 2026: See the waxing crescent moon near Jupiter after sunset while brilliant Venus shines in the west-northwest. Saturn climbs higher before sunrise as Mercury moves into the evening sky. - 2026, May 19: Crescent Moon Between Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
May 19, 2026: See the crescent moon between brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset while Saturn climbs higher in the eastern sky before sunrise. Learn where and when to look. - 2026, May 18: Closest Venus–Moon Conjunction of the Evening Apparition Lights the Western Sky
May 18, 2026: See the closest Venus–Moon conjunction of this evening apparition as brilliant Venus shines beside the crescent moon after sunset. Learn when and where to look. - 2026, May 17-20: Waxing Crescent Moon Passes Venus and Jupiter in May Evening Sky
May 17-20, 2026: Watch the waxing crescent moon pass brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset. The May 18 Venus–Moon pairing is one of the prettiest sights of the planet’s 2026 evening apparition.