May 12, 2026: Saturn makes its first morning appearance as a crescent moon guides the way before sunrise, while Venus moves between Taurus’ horns toward Jupiter after sunset.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:34 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:01 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
See Saturn, Moon, Venus, Jupiter
During the nighttime hours, Saturn makes its first morning appearance as the moon approaches. After sunset, Venus moves between Taurus’ horns as it targets Jupiter.
Before Sunrise: Saturn, Moon
Step outside an hour before sunrise. Find a clear horizon looking eastward. Saturn is making its first morning appearance at the mid-northern latitudes. This morning, it is 5° above the east horizon. The crescent moon, 25% illuminated, is nearly 20° to the Ringed Wonder’s upper right. They are too far apart to fit into the same binocular field of view. Tomorrow morning, they are in the same field, making Saturn’s identification easier.
Earthshine
Look for earthshine on the moon’s night portion. This is from sunlight that is reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land that softly lights the lunar night. Photograph it with a tripod-mounted camera or a steady camera phone using exposures up to a few seconds. The crescent is overexposed, but earthshine is captured.
Sirius Leaving Evening Sky
After sunset, Sirius is about 5° above the west-southwest horizon at 45 minutes after sunset. It is departing the evening sky at its heliacal setting. The Dog Star is nearly 30° to Betelgeuse’s lower left, which is over 10° above the west horizon. Initially use a binocular to see Sirius. Can you find it without the optical assist?
After its solar conjunction on July 6, Sirius reappears in the east-southeast later in the summer. This follows Betelgeuse’s solar conjunction on June 20.
Venus Overtakes Jupiter, Venus with Taurus’ Horns
Brilliant Venus shines from the west-northwest after sunset. It is visible as early as 30 minutes after sundown. Thirty minutes later, it is over 15° above the horizon. It steps eastward in front of Taurus.
During the next few evenings, it passes between the Bull’s horns. Tonight, it has a conjunction with Elnath, the northern horn. Their separation is 4.0°, with the star to the upper right.
Tomorrow evening, it passes between the horns, followed by a conjunction with Zeta Tauri, the other horn, on May 14.
Venus is slowly closing the gap to bright Jupiter, nearly 28° to the upper left.
Jupiter, over 35° above the west horizon, slowly rambles eastward in front of Gemini, 6.9° to the lower left of Pollux, one of the Twins. It passed Castor in a wide conjunction last night. Tonight, their separation is 9.7°.
During the night, Venus sets over two hours after sundown, while Jupiter sets nearly three hours later.
With Saturn’s return to the morning sky, three bright planets are visible during the nighttime hours. During the next few evenings, watch Venus move between Taurus’ horns as it closes the gap to Jupiter.
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