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.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:16 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:24 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-Jupiter Conjunction in Two Nights
The Venus–Jupiter conjunction occurs in two nights. Venus continues to close the gap to Jupiter in the west-northwest after sunset.
Here is the scene: An hour after sunset, step outside and look to the west-northwest. Two bright “stars” are about 15° above the horizon. Brilliant Venus is 2.3° to the right of Jupiter. They appear close together, but Jupiter is about six times farther away from Earth than Venus. Both planets are moving eastward in front of Gemini, to the lower left of Pollux, one of the Twins. All three fit into the same binocular field of view.
Venus–Jupiter conjunctions occur about every 10-15 months and are hardly rare. Brighter than all the stars in the night sky, the planetary pair’s close proximity stands out among celestial phenomena along with eclipses and close conjunctions of Venus and a lunar crescent.
Mercury
In addition to the two noticeable planets, Mercury is also in front of Gemini to the lower right of the impending conjunction. Initially, at 45 minutes after sunset, find the Elusive Planet about 10° above the west-northwest horizon. It is visible without optical aid. An hour after sunset it is lower and possibly hidden by clouds near the horizon. The Mercury–Jupiter gap spans 15.4°.
Before Sunrise
Meanwhile, before sunrise, the gibbous moon, 61% illuminated, is over 30° above the southeast horizon in front of Aquarius. Look for Fomalhaut, the mouth of the Southern Fish, 20° below the lunar orb. The star is the 13th brightest visible for sky watchers at the mid-northern latitudes.
Saturn and Mars
Saturn, 20° above the east-southeast horizon, is nearly 40° to the moon’s lower left. The Ringed Wonder is easier to see each morning, although the rings are still blurred by the thicker air near the horizon. Better telescopic views are ahead.
Likewise, Mars emerges from brighter morning twilight. An hour before sunrise, it is less than 10° above the east-northeast horizon, over 30° to Saturn’s lower left. Mars marches eastward in front of Aries, 12° below Hamal, the Ram’s brightest star. This morning, Mars is the dimmest of the five bright planets, although its brightness is highly variable. A binocular is needed to see it this morning. Every 15-17 years, Mars’ elliptical orbit brings it closest to Earth when our planet passes between the Red Planet and the sun — a perihelic opposition. On those occasions, Mars is brighter than Jupiter.
Watch the evening conjunction unfold with Mercury to the lower right, while Saturn, Mars, and the moon are in the morning sky.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 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. - 2026, June 6: Venus Nears Jupiter Before Their Evening Conjunction
June 6, 2026: Venus closes to within 3.1° of Jupiter after sunset while Mercury joins the evening planet lineup low in the west-northwest sky. - 2026, June 5: Venus and Jupiter Tighten in the Western Sky After Sunset
June 5, 2026: Venus closes to within 4° of Jupiter after sunset while Mercury joins the evening planet lineup low in the west-northwest sky. - 2026, June 4: Venus Closes to Within 5° of Jupiter After Sunset
June 4, 2026: Venus rapidly closes the gap to Jupiter before their June 9 conjunction while Mercury joins the bright evening planet display low in the western sky. - 2026, June 3: Venus Closes in on Jupiter as Mercury Appears in Evening Planet Display
June 3, 2026: Venus and Jupiter tighten toward their June 9 conjunction while Mercury joins the bright evening planet lineup low in the western sky after sunset.