2026, October 7: Predawn Alignment of Jupiter, Moon, and Regulus

October 7, 2026:  Before sunrise, look for Jupiter, Regulus, and Moon align in the eastern sky.

Moon and Venus, October 13, 2020
Photo Caption – 2020, October 13: The moon (26.0 days past New moon phase, 16% illuminated) – nearly 33° up in the east – is 8.8° above Venus, 24.0° up in the east. The crescent is 5.9° to the lower left of Regulus.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:54 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:22 p.m. CDT.  Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA 4computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.

Crescent Moon in Eastern Sky

Jupiter, Moon, Regulus, October 7, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, October 7: An hour before sunrise, the crescent moon is to the lower right of Jupiter and Regulus.

Step outside an hour before sunrise. Bright Jupiter is less than halfway from the eastern horizon to overhead.  The Jovin Giant outshines all the stars in the sky this morning, even Sirius, about 30° above the southern horizon.  It is 9.5° to Regulus’ upper right, Leo’ brightest star.

This morning, the crescent moon, 11% illuminated, is 5.2° to Regulus’ lower left.  Jupiter, Regulus, and Moon span 14.7°.

Notice earthshine on the moon.  This effect is sunlight reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land that gently illuminates the lunar night.  Photograph it with a tripod-mounted camera or a steady camera phone.  Use exposures up to several seconds.  Any exposure over a fraction of a second overexposes the lunar crescent, but reveals earthshine.

Look for this pretty alignment of Jupiter, Moon, and Regulus before sunrise.

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