2026, July 28: Orion Returns to the Morning Sky While Mars Approaches Taurus’ Horns

July 28, 2026: Orion reappears in the predawn eastern sky while Mars advances toward Taurus’ horns. Learn where to find the Hunter and follow Mars’ changing position before sunrise.

Orion Rising, September 4, 2020
2020, September 4: Orion, with its bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel, rise into the late-summer morning sky.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:41 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:13 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

Orion Returns

Mars, Taurus, Orion, January 28, 2026
Chart Caption – 2028, July 28: Mars, Taurus, and Orion are in the eastern sky as the Hunter makes its annual appearance in the morning sky.

At this season, Orion returns to the eastern morning sky as summer approaches its midpoint. After disappearing into evening twilight and passing behind the sun, the Hunter reappears before sunrise. An hour before sunrise, step outside with a binocular and look eastward.

Binocular View: Orion's Belt, Late July
Chart Caption – Late July: Orion’s belt is easily observed near the horizon through a binocular an hour before sunrise.

Orion’s brightest stars, Betelgeuse and Rigel, are less than 10° above the eastern horizon. Through the binocular and with a clear view toward the east, the stars are easily seen. Orion’s belt stars are easy to locate between the Hunter’s bright stars. The stellar trio easily fits into the same binocular field of view. A clear, unobstructed eastern horizon is more important than a dark observing location, making this observation easy even from many urban locations.

Look For Mars

At the same hour, Mars is less than 20° to Betelgeuse’s upper left and nearly 12° to Aldebaran’s lower left, Taurus’ brightest star. The planet is noticeably dimmer than these two red-orange stars because it is over 190 million miles from Earth. Its brightness is highly variable. In about six months, when Earth passes between Mars and the sun, the planet brightens to nearly 10 times its current visual intensity.

Mars approaches the Bull’s horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri. It is 5.8° to Elnath’s lower right and 5.0° to Zeta Tauri’s upper right. Mars is now noticeably closer to the Bull’s horns than it is to Aldebaran. Watch the Red Planet pass between them in five mornings.

Find Orion near the horizon before sunrise during its annual reappearance in the morning sky. Mars is above the Hunter, marching against Taurus toward the Bull’s horns. Orion’s annual return and Mars’ movement toward the horns are easy changes to follow from morning to morning with a binocular.

LATEST ARTICLES