May 2026: Venus Tracks Through Taurus Toward Jupiter Conjunction.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus as an Evening Star
Venus, May 2026
Venus is the brilliant starlike body in the west-northwest after sunset. For most of the month, it steps eastward in front of Taurus. It crosses the boundary with Gemini on May 19.
Early May
On May 1, at one hour after sunset, the Evening Star is nearly 15° above the west-northwest horizon. It is visible as early as 30 minutes after sunset. Tonight, the planet passes 6.4° to the upper right of Aldebaran, the Bull’s brightest star.
It steps eastward about 1° from night to night as it closes in on Jupiter, nearly 40° to the upper left on May 1. By month’s end, their gap is less than 10°, with a Venus–Jupiter conjunction occurring on June 9.
As Venus moves eastward, it passes Taurus’ dimmer stars. On May 8, Venus passes between Aldebaran and Elnath, one of the bovine’s horns. On May 12, it passes Elnath. The next evening, it passes between Elnath and Zeta Tauri, the second horn. On May 14, it passes 3.7° to Zeta Tauri’s upper right.
Venus, Moon, May 18
An hour after sunset on the evening of May 18, the crescent moon, 7% illuminated, is 2.4° to Venus’ upper right. With Jupiter nearly 22° to the upper left and the Gemini Twins nearby, this is a picturesque evening.
Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Gemini
On May 19, Venus crosses Gemini’s border, 20.7° to the lower right of Jupiter. On the subsequent evenings, it passes the stars in Castor’s foot. Afterward, it continues to advance toward its Jupiter conjunction.
Later in the month, Mercury enters the western sky. At month’s end, Jupiter–Venus–Mercury span over 26°.
Through a telescope, Venus’ phase shrinks from 88% illuminated to 80%. Its distance from Earth decreases nearly 12% while its brightness increases slightly. At month’s end, Venus reaches its maximum interval between sunrise and Venus set — 162 minutes.
During May, watch Venus step eastward in front of Taurus, passing between the horns, followed by moving in front of Gemini as it approaches Jupiter. Mercury enters the scene during late May to add to the view in the evening western sky.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, June 10: Venus and Jupiter Remain Close After Conjunction with Mercury Below
June 10, 2026: After their conjunction, Venus and Jupiter remain near each other in the west-northwest after sunset while fading Mercury appears lower in evening twilight. - 2026, June 9-13: Waning Crescent Moon Passes Saturn and Mars Before Sunrise
June 9-13, 2026: See the waning crescent moon with Saturn and Mars before sunrise during mid-June. Learn where to look for earthshine, Saturn’s rings, Mars, and the Pleiades in the eastern sky. - 2026, June 9: Venus-Jupiter Conjunction Occurs in the West-Northwest with Mercury Nearby
June 9, 2026: See Venus and Jupiter in a close evening conjunction after sunset with Mercury lower in the west-northwest sky. Includes observing tips and future conjunction dates. - 2026, June 8: Venus Threads Between Jupiter and Pollux Before Brilliant Evening Conjunction
June 8, 2026: See Venus and Jupiter only 2 degrees apart after sunset with Mercury nearby in Gemini. Find the bright planets and moon before sunrise with Saturn and Mars. - 2026, June 7: Venus Closes in on Jupiter Before June 9 Conjunction
June 7, 2026: Venus moves within 2.3° of Jupiter after sunset while Mercury joins the evening sky lineup low in the west-northwest before the June 9 conjunction.