June 16-17, 2026: See the crescent moon join Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury after sunset on. Earthshine, the Beehive Cluster, and Mercury’s fading appearance add to the evening sky show.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus as an Evening Star
Moon Joins Evening Planets
The moon returns to the western evening sky, joining Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. Here is what to see one hour after sunset:
June 16
• June 16: Brilliant Venus is 15° above the west-northwest horizon and over 10° to the lunar crescent’s upper left. The moon, 6% illuminated, is grouped closely with Jupiter, 4.2° to the upper left, and Mercury, 3.3° to the lower right. Jupiter, the moon, and Mercury tightly fit into the same binocular field of view.
If you have not seen Mercury, place the crescent moon in the center of the field. Mercury is to the lower right. Notice that the moon is inside a nearly equilateral triangle outlined by Jupiter, Mercury, and Gemini’s Pollux. Tonight, the four bodies, from Venus to Mercury, span nearly 14°.
June 17
• June 17: After a daytime occultation of Venus, the moon, 12% illuminated, is 2.9° to the planet’s upper left and over 15° above the west-northwest horizon after sunset.
This is a pretty sight through a binocular that includes the Beehive star cluster to the moon’s lower right. At this level of twilight, only the cluster’s brightest stars are visible. Tonight, the Venus–Jupiter gap is 8.1°, while Mercury is 6.2° to the Jovian Giant’s lower right. From the lunar crescent to Mercury, the four bodies span nearly 17°.
Earthshine, Photography
Photograph the planets and moon with a tripod-mounted camera or a steady camera phone. Use exposures up to five seconds and vary the zoom settings.
Photographic images can capture earthshine, a gentle illumination on the moon’s night side from sunlight reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land.
Watch the moon pass the three bright evening planets while Mercury remains visible in the western sky.
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