2026, May 6: Spring Midpoint Sky: Gibbous Moon with Sagittarius, Venus and Jupiter After Sunset

May 6, 2026: At spring’s midpoint, find the gibbous moon with Sagittarius before sunrise and track Venus overtaking Jupiter in the western evening sky.

May 4, 2018: Venus in the western evening sky.
Photo Caption – May 4, 2018: Venus in the western evening sky.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:41 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:55 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

Spring’s Midpoint

May Day Exhibition
Photo Caption – Spring Flowers

Spring’s midpoint occurs today at 6:35 p.m. Central Time, although May Day is the traditional center of the season. The season’s length is 92 days, 17 hours, 38 minutes.

Morning Moon

Gibbous Moon, Sagittarius, May 6, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, May 6: An hour before sunrise, the bright gibbous moon is in the south with Sagittarius.

Before sunrise, the gibbous moon, 81% illuminated, is 20° above the southern horizon. It is in front of Sagittarius where the brightest stars resemble a teapot. In this moonlight, a binocular is needed to see them.

Look for the tip of the Scorpion’s tail, Shaula, and the stinger, Lesath, over 15° to the moon’s lower right.

Venus after Sunset

Venus, Taurus, May 6, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, May 6: An hour after sunset, brilliant Venus is nearly between Aldebaran and Elnath.

After sunset, brilliant Venus is in the west-northwest. It is bright enough to be seen during bright twilight, as early as 30 minutes after nightfall. As the sky darkens, it is easier to see, and by an hour after sunset, it is about 15° above the west-northwest horizon.

The Evening Star steps eastward, 8.6° to Aldebaran’s upper right, Taurus’ brightest star, and 8.4° below Elnath, one of the horns. From night to night, the planet’s eastward movement is easy to follow. Use a binocular to see its changing place in front of Taurus’ rich starfield.

Venus Overtaking Jupiter

Jupiter, Gemini, May 6, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, May 6: An hour after sunset, Jupiter is in the western sky below Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins.

Venus is overtaking bright Jupiter, 34° to the upper left. With their conjunction occurring on June 9, their separation closes about 1° each night.

Bright Jupiter, about 45° above the western horizon, slowly rambles eastward in front of Gemini, 7.3° to Pollux’s lower left and 9.7° to Castor’s lower left, the Gemini Twins.

Tonight, Venus sets over two hours after sunset, while Jupiter sets nearly 3 hours later.

At this midpoint of the season, look for the gibbous moon during morning twilight and two bright planets after sunset.

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