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.

2019, January 31: The waning crescent moon is 2 degrees from Venus this morning with Jupiter 8.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus.
Photo Caption – 2019, January 31: The waning crescent moon is 2 degrees from Venus this morning with Jupiter 8.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:15 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:25 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 in West-Northwest

Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, June 10, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, June 10: Venus is near Jupiter after yesterday’s conjunction. Mercury is the lower right.

After yesterday’s conjunction, Venus and Jupiter are still close together in the west-northwest after sunset as Mercury’s brightness fades.

Step outside an hour after sunset. Two bright starlike bodies gleam in the west-northwest. In tonight’s sky, brilliant Venus is 2.0° above Jupiter. Venus passed 1.6° to Jupiter’s upper right last night.

Every 10-15 months Venus passes Jupiter in the eastern sky before sunrise, during the daytime, or in the western sky after sunset. Venus is never opposite the sun, like Jupiter, so its conjunctions with the other planets and the moon occur during twilight. The next conjunction on August 25, 2027, is a daytime event, followed by a morning conjunction on November 10, 2028.

Tonight, Venus is 5.9° to Pollux’s lower left, one of the Gemini Twins. Venus, Jupiter, and Pollux fit into the same binocular field of view.

Mercury is Nearby

Mercury is part of this scene, 13.2° to Venus’ lower right. As Mercury’s greatest elongation nears in four nights, the planet fades in brightness. Begin looking for it about 45 minutes after sunset through a binocular. It appears as a bright star about 10° above the west-northwest horizon. Can you see it without optical assistance? Fifteen minutes later, it is lower and blurred by the thicker atmosphere.

During the next several evenings, watch Venus pull away from Jupiter, crossing the border with Cancer. Mercury’s brightness continues to fade. Use a binocular to note its place in the nightly lineup.

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