August 5, 2026: Watch the moon separate from Saturn, Mars move beyond Taurus’ horns, Mercury retreat into twilight, and brilliant Venus approach Virgo’s Spica.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:49 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:04 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
• Morning Moon Separates From Saturn
• Mars Marches Eastward
• Mercury Retreats Into Twilight
• Venus Dominates Western Evening Sky
Moon and Saturn
An hour before sunrise, the moon, 58% illuminated, is high in the southeast. In front of Aries, it is 6.8° to Hamal’s lower right, the Ram’s brightest star. The lunar orb reaches the morning half (Last Quarter) phase at 9:21 p.m. Central Time, when it is below the horizon for most of the Americas.
The moon was near Saturn a few mornings ago and is now over 20° to the planet’s upper left. After passing Saturn and Pisces’ starfield, the moon is now in front of Aries. Its eastward motion against the starfield is easy to see from one morning to the next.
The Ringed Wonder slowly retrogrades in front of Pisces. It is not as bright as Venus, but it outshines all the stars in its region. Saturn rises before local midnight and is well placed for telescopic views in the southeast about three hours before sunrise through mid-twilight when it is farther southward. The rings remain easy to see through a telescope into mid-twilight.
Mars
The Red Planet marches eastward beyond Taurus’ horns. One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly 30° above the eastern horizon, 2.5° to Zeta Tauri’s upper left and 6.1° to Elnath’s lower right. The planet is dimmer than might be expected because it is over 180 million miles from Earth. It is nearly 10 times brighter when Earth passes between Mars and the sun next year.
Mars is now clearly east of Taurus’ horns after its recent passage between Elnath and Zeta Tauri. Look for the Red Planet each clear morning as it continues toward the Gemini boundary.
While locating Mars, look for Orion near the eastern horizon. The Hunter is continuing its annual morning appearance cycle that ends when the constellation disappears into western evening twilight next May. Orion’s belt stars point downward toward Sirius, which is nearing its first morning appearance, known as its heliacal rising, at the mid-northern latitudes.
Mercury
The Elusive Planet retreats into morning twilight while brightening along the way. An hour before sunrise, Mercury is less than 5° above the east-northeast horizon and to the lower right of Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins.
Mercury recently passed greatest elongation and is now slipping back toward the sun’s glare. The planet is becoming increasingly difficult to see because of the shallow angle of the ecliptic with the morning horizon. Fifteen minutes later, Mercury is higher, although the sky is considerably brighter. Use a binocular to find Mercury before it disappears into sunlight.
Venus After Sunset
After sunset, Venus shines brightly from the western sky. It outshines every celestial body except the sun and moon. The Evening Star continues to brighten through September 23 as it moves closer to Earth.
The planet steps eastward in front of Virgo, nearly 25° to Spica’s lower right, the constellation’s brightest star. Venus passes the star on September 1. Use a binocular to find Zavijava, also known as Beta Virginis, 2.1° to the planet’s upper right. Porrima, also known as Gamma Virginis, is nearly 12° to Venus’ upper left. Watch Venus steadily close the gap to Spica during the remainder of August.
Through a telescope, Venus is approaching its evening half phase, nearly 54% illuminated. Venus’ phase cycle is different from the moon’s lunation. Waxing and waning, as well as the quarter-phase names, are not used.
In 10 evenings, the Evening Star appears farthest from the sun, known as greatest elongation. Even with an angle of 45°, Venus is only 8° above the western horizon an hour after sunset. During summer, the evening ecliptic makes a shallow angle with the horizon, resulting in the planet’s low altitude.
As the sunset point appears farther southward along the horizon, Venus’ nightly position mirrors the sun’s changing place.
Find these bright planets and the moon before sunrise and after sunset.
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