September 21, 2026: Venus nears its greatest brilliancy while the Harvest Moon grows brighter each evening. Saturn rises earlier as opposition approaches, and Jupiter and Mars dominate the predawn sky.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:37 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:50 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
- Venus Near Greatest Brilliancy
- Bright Evening Moon
- Saturn Nearly All Night
- Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
Venus Near Greatest Brilliancy
Brilliant Venus shines through bright evening twilight as it descends into the western sky. It nears its greatest brilliancy in two nights, only subtly brighter than this evening. The Evening Star sets less than 55 minutes after sunset. From a location with a clear horizon toward the west-southwest, find it near the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. Through a telescope, the planet displays an evening crescent phase, 23% illuminated.
Bright Evening Moon
The bright gibbous moon is farther eastward at sundown. As the sky darkens, a few fainter stars become visible in its vicinity. An hour after sunset, the lunar orb, 78% illuminated, is over 20° above the southern horizon. It is in front of Capricornus, 10° below Algedi, known as the Kid. Use a binocular to examine the faint starfield.
The moon is bright enough to cast shadows during this lunation that includes the Harvest Moon. The Full Moon phase occurs at 5:49 p.m. Central Time on September 26. During the next 10 days, the bright moon adds light to evening outdoor activities.
Saturn Nearly All Night
Saturn rises earlier each night as opposition approaches on October 4, when Earth passes between the Ringed Wonder and the sun. At opposition, the planet is closest to Earth and brightest. Through a telescope, find the rings and a direct view of the southern hemisphere. Its largest moon, Titan, is easy to see, appearing as a starlike point near the planet.
Saturn rises about 35 minutes after sunset. Three hours after sundown, the planet is 25° above the east-southeast horizon. It is the brightest starlike body in the region, although it is less than 1% of Venus’ brightness, demonstrating the Evening Star’s dominating brilliance. Saturn is in the south after midnight and in the west-southwest during morning twilight.
Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
Bright Jupiter dominates the predawn eastern sky. An hour before sunrise, the Jovian Giant is over 25° above the eastern horizon. While only about 6% of Venus’ brightness, Jupiter outshines all the stars in the sky this morning. It rambles eastward in front of Cancer.
Through a telescope, the planet’s four brightest moons are easy to see along with its cloud belts that are whipped parallel to the equator. 2026, September 21: At three hours after sunset, Saturn is in the east-southeast.
Red-orange Mars is nearly 22° to Jupiter’s upper right and halfway from the east horizon to overhead. Like the Venus–Jupiter brightness comparison, Mars is only about 6% of Jupiter’s brightness, although the Red Planet is easily seen.
Mars marches eastward in front of Gemini, 6.3° to Pollux’s lower right. It approaches an imaginary line that begins at Castor and extends through Pollux. Mars crosses that line on September 25. Watch the planet continue to close the gap to Jupiter. The Jupiter–Mars conjunction occurs on November 16.
Look for these four bright planets and the moon during the night.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, September 21: Harvest Moon Nights Begin as Venus and Jupiter Dominate the Sky
September 21, 2026: Venus nears its greatest brilliancy while the Harvest Moon grows brighter each evening. Saturn rises earlier as opposition approaches, and Jupiter and Mars dominate the predawn sky. - 2026, September 19-23: Moon Waxes Toward Harvest Moon
September 19-23, 2026: The Waxing Gibbous Moon appears farther eastward in front of Sagittarius and Capricornus as the Harvest Moon approaches. - 2026, September 19: Venus at Greatest Illuminated Extent: Evening Crescent Grows Larger
September 19, 2026: Venus reaches its greatest illuminated extent tonight, appearing larger through a telescope while showing an evening crescent phase. Learn why the Evening Star shines so brilliantly before sunset. - 2026, September 18: First Quarter Moon Near Sagittarius, Venus in Evening Twilight, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 18, 2026: The First Quarter Moon shines near Sagittarius after sunset while brilliant Venus descends into evening twilight. Saturn nears opposition, and Jupiter and … Continue reading 2026, September 18: First Quarter Moon Near Sagittarius, Venus in Evening Twilight, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise - 2026, September 17: Mars Passes Pollux Before Sunrise: Watch the Red Planet Align With Twins
September 17, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Pollux in a wide conjunction while Jupiter shines from Cancer. Follow the Red Planet’s eastward march against Gemini as it closes the gap with Jupiter.