2026, August 15-17: Crescent Moon Passes Venus and Spica After Sunset During Venus’ Greatest Elongation

August 15-17, 2026: Watch the crescent moon pass brilliant Venus and Spica after sunset. See earthshine on the moon and follow Venus at greatest elongation as it closes in on Virgo’s brightest star.

Venus, August 4, 2018.
August 4, 2018: Venus from the Arizona desert.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Venus as an Evening Star

Venus, Moon, Spica After Sunset

Venus, Moon, Spica, August 15-17, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, August 15-17: Venus, Moon, and Spica are in the western sky after sunset.

The crescent moon returns to the west-southwest after sunset, passing brilliant Venus at the planet’s greatest elongation and Spica, Virgo’s brightest star.

Step outside 45 minutes after sunset. Brilliant Venus gleams from the west-southwest. The Evening Star is farther southward along the horizon, mirroring the sun’s changing sunset azimuth. During the next few evenings, the moon passes through the region, creating a striking display in the twilight sky.

The moon was at the New phase three days ago during the total solar eclipse. Its return to the evening sky is delayed by the shallow angle the ecliptic, the plane of the solar system where the planets and moon appear to move, makes with the western horizon. Similarly, Venus is considerably lower after sunset than it was a month ago. While Venus reaches greatest elongation on the 15th, appearing farthest from the sun for Earthbound sky watchers, it remains low in the sky because of this shallow inclination. Find a clear view toward the west-southwest horizon and watch the moon appear farther eastward.

Earthshine

The moon, January 15, 2021
Photo Caption – 2021, January 15: The thin waxing moon with earthshine, reflected sunlight from Earth’s features gently illuminates the lunar night.

As the moon waxes through the early crescent phases, it displays earthshine from sunlight reflected by Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land. This light softly illuminates the moon’s night portion, much as moonlight from a Full moon illuminates terrestrial features. Earthshine is visible to the unaided eye, but it is easier to see through a binocular or spotting scope. Photograph it with a steady camera, varying the exposure and composition to include Venus and Spica or creating a close-up view of the lunar crescent.

The Highlights

Here is what to see:

  • August 15: The crescent moon, 15% illuminated, is less than 10° above the west-southwest horizon with brilliant Venus 4.1° to the upper left. Spica, nearly 20° above the southwest horizon, is over 15° to Venus’ upper left. Moon, Venus, and Spica span 18.4°.
  • August 16: The moon, 21% illuminated, is 10° above the west-southwest horizon and 9.5° to the left of Venus. Spica is 6.0° to the moon’s upper left. The Venus–Spica distance is 14.2°, creating the closest grouping of these three bodies during this lunation.
  • August 17: The moon, 30% illuminated, is nearly 15° above the southwest horizon and 8.2° to Spica’s lower left. The Venus–Spica gap is 13.2°. Venus, Spica, and the moon span 21°.

After this sequence, the moon continues to wax, appearing farther eastward in front of Libra, Scorpius, and Sagittarius during the next several evenings. Venus continues to brighten while closing the separation to Spica. Their conjunction occurs on September 1.

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