October 23, 2026: Venus reaches inferior conjunction as Mars approaches Jupiter before sunrise. After sunset, find the bright Hunter’s Moon near Saturn.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:12 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 5:57 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
Venus at Inferior Conjunction
Venus is at inferior conjunction, between Earth and Sun. Mars continues its approach toward Jupiter before sunrise, while the Hunter’s Moon is near Saturn after sunset.
Venus ends its evening apparition at inferior conjunction today. It passes between Earth and Sun. Then the planet speeds toward the morning sky, eventually appearing as the Morning Star.
On November 7, Venus and a thin crescent moon appear near Spica, Virgo’s brightest star. The grouping spans 3°, easily fitting into the same binocular field. At 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus is nearly 10° above the east-southeast horizon.
Jupiter, Mars Before Sunrise
Today before sunrise, bright Jupiter and Mars are in the southeastern sky. An hour before sunrise, bright Jupiter is 50° above the east-southeast horizon. Until Venus returns, Jupiter is the third brightest celestial body after Sun and Moon.
The Jovian Giant rambles eastward in front of Leo, 7° to Regulus’ upper right, the Lion’s brightest star, and 9° to Mars’ lower left.
Mars is marching eastward in front of Cancer. It overtakes Jupiter on November 16.
Saturn, Hunter’s Moon
After sunset, the Hunter’s Moon is near Saturn. An hour after sunset, the bright moon, 94% illuminated, is over 25° above the east-southeast horizon and 8.6° to Saturn’s upper right. During the night, the pair moves farther westward. They are in the southern sky before local midnight. Saturn sets in the west about two hours before sunrise.
Venus begins its next morning apparition as Mars approaches Jupiter before sunrise, while the Hunter’s Moon shines near Saturn after sunset.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, November 12: Venus Near Spica, Mars Approaches Jupiter, and the Evening Crescent Moon
November 12, 2026: Find Venus near Spica and Mercury low before sunrise. Watch Mars approach Jupiter, see the evening crescent moon with earthshine, and observe Saturn after sunset. - 2026, November 11-15: The Evening Crescent Moon and Earthshine
November 11-15, 2026: Watch the crescent moon move through Ophiuchus, Sagittarius, and Capricornus. Find the Teapot, observe earthshine, and follow the Moon toward First Quarter. - 2026, November 10: Sky Almanac – Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
November 10, 2026: See Venus, Jupiter, and Mars before sunrise, Saturn after sunset, and locate Uranus and Neptune with a binocular. - 2026, November 9: New Moon and Four Bright Planets
November 9, 2026: The New moon begins lunation 1285. Find Venus near Spica, watch Mars approach Jupiter, and view Saturn in the evening sky. - 2026, November 6-29: Watch Venus Loop Past Spica Before Sunrise
November 6-29, 2026: Watch Venus rise earlier each morning as it appears to move from south of Spica to north of the star. Follow their changing separation through November.