July 15, 2026: A thin crescent Moon returns to the evening sky. Watch Venus pass Rho Leonis, locate Saturn before sunrise, and follow Mars moving through Taurus.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:29 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
Today’s Highlights
- Moon Returns to Evening Sky
- Venus-Rho Leonis Conjunction
- Saturn in Southeast Before Sunrise
- Mars Marches Eastward
Venus, Moon
After the New Moon phase yesterday, the crescent Moon is visible low in the western sky after sunset. At 45 minutes after sundown, the razor-thin lunar crescent, 4% illuminated, is nearly 5° above the west-northwest horizon. Find a location with a clear view of the horizon, such as a hilltop or a high floor in an elevated structure. Take along a binocular.
Venus-Rho Leonis Conjunction
At this time, brilliant Venus is over 20° to the Moon’s upper left and nearly 15° above the western horizon. As the sky darkens further, Regulus is visible, 6.9° to Venus’ lower right. The brilliant planet and the star is a tight fit in a binocular. Look carefully for Rho Leonis (ρ Leo), 1.0° to Venus’ lower left.
Rho is not a bright star, although it is closer to the ecliptic than Regulus, the brightest star nearest that solar system plane. It serves as a milestone to note the Moon’s and planets’ changing locations as viewed in the sky. During the next several evenings, Venus quickly opens a widening gap with the star as it continues to step eastward in front of Leo.
Tomorrow evening, look for the lunar crescent near Regulus.
Saturn Before Sunrise
An hour before sunrise, golden Saturn is halfway from the southeast horizon to overhead. It creeps slowly eastward against a dim Pisces starfield. The planet is not as bright as Venus, but it is brighter than all the stars in the region. Even during morning twilight, Saturn’s rings are visible through a telescope.
Mars, Taurus
Farther eastward along the ecliptic, Mars is about 20° above the east-northeast horizon. It is 5.5° to Aldebaran’s upper left, Taurus’ brightest star.
The Bull has a rich starfield to watch Mars’ eastward march. Use a binocular to follow the planet’s changing place against the starry background. During the next several mornings, Mars moves past the Hyades star cluster and away from Aldebaran, providing easy-to-see changes from morning to morning.
Mars is not as bright as might be expected. Its brightness is highly variable because of its small size, about half Earth’s size, and its changing distance from Earth. It is nearly two million miles from Erath and is closest in about seven months it is nearly 10 times of this morning’s brightness.
At this season before sunrise, Taurus is on its side facing the horizon. Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster outline the head while the horns extend northward along the horizon. The Pleiades star cluster rides on its back.
Capella, the fourth brightest star visible from the mid-northern latitudes, is nearly 30° above the northeast horizon. It is part of a pentagon shape known as Auriga, the Charioteer. For completeness, Elnath, the Bull’s northern horn, is included in the shape. Capella means “the she goat.” A nearby tiny triangle is popularly known as “the Kids.”
After sunset, look for the crescent Moon starting its lunation while Venus passes Rho Leonis. Before sunrise, locate Saturn and Mars.
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