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.
Category: Sky Watching
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.
2026, September 16: Venus After Sunset, Moon Near Antares, Saturn Near Opposition, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 16, 2026: Brilliant Venus shines low in evening twilight while the crescent moon appears near Antares. Saturn nears opposition, and Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern predawn sky.
2026, September 15-18: Moon Passes Antares: Earthshine, Scorpius, and the Harvest Moon Path
2026, September 15-18: Watch the waxing crescent moon pass Antares, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, and Sagittarius. See earthshine, photograph the lunar crescent, and follow the moon’s path toward the Harvest Moon.
2026, September 14: Lunar Crescent Near Venus, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 14, 2026: The crescent moon appears near Venus after sunset while Jupiter and Mars shine before sunrise. Saturn nears opposition, Uranus is easy to locate near the Pleiades, and Neptune remains a challenging binocular target.
2026, September 13-14: Crescent Moon Returns to Venus in Evening Twilight
September 13-14, 2026: The young crescent moon returns to the evening sky near brilliant Venus. Watch the lunar crescent, Venus, and possibly Spica low in the west-southwest after sunset.
2026, September 12: Mars Passes Castor Before Sunrise While Closing on Jupiter
September 12, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Castor in a wide conjunction while continuing its eastward march in front of Gemini. Jupiter shines lower in the eastern sky as Mars slowly closes the gap for their November conjunction.
2026, September 11: Venus in Evening Twilight, Saturn Nears Opposition, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 11, 2026: Brilliant Venus appears deeper into evening twilight while Saturn approaches opposition. Before sunrise, Jupiter and Mars shine from the eastern sky as Mars closes the gap to Jupiter.
2026, September 10: New Moon Skies Reveal Uranus and Neptune
September 10, 2026: With the moon at the New phase, dark skies help sky watchers locate Uranus near the Pleiades, search for Neptune near Saturn, and understand where Pluto appears in front of Capricornus’ stars.
2026, September 9: Moon-Regulus Conjunction Before Sunrise Confirms Star’s Return to Morning Sky
September 9, 2026: A thin crescent moon appears near Regulus before sunrise while Jupiter and Mars brighten the eastern sky. The conjunction signals Regulus’ return to morning visibility after its solar conjunction.