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.

2021, November 28: Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are lined up in the southwestern sky as if they are in a parade.
Photo Caption – 2021, November 28: Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are lined up in the southwestern sky as if they are in a parade.

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

Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, June 7, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, June 7: An hour after sunset, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are in the west-northwest horizon.

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

Moon, June 7, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, June 7: Before sunrise, the gibbous moon is in the southeastern sky.

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 and Mars, June 7, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, June 7: An hour before sunrise, Saturn and Mars are in the eastern sky.

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.

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