View at EarthSky Community Photos. | P Govardhana Siddartha of India submitted this composite of Venus taken over 4 months. Venus was recorded from December 2024 to March 2025. Venus was at its greatest distance from the sun in January 2025. You can see how the size of Venus increases and the phase decreases on its way to inferior conjunction. That’s when it passes between Earth and the sun which last occurred in March 2025 and will occur next on October 24, 2026. Thank you, P Govardhana!
Venus after sunset in August 2026
In August 2026, Venus – Earth’s brightest neighboring planet – will be shining in the western twilight after sunset. You can’t miss Venus! It’s exceedingly bright and will penetrate the bright twilight. It’ll remain visible in the evening sky through October. Greatest elongation – when Venus will reach its farthest distance from the sunset – is at 6 UTC on August 15, 2026. Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy in the evening sky on September 18, 2026.
As the 2nd planet in orbit (going outward from the sun), Venus is bound by an invisible tether to the sun in our sky. It’s always east before sunrise, or west after sunset (never overhead at midnight). Venus is the brightest planet visible from Earth and shines brilliantly throughout every morning or evening apparition. Greatest elongation happens when Venus is farthest from the sun on the sky’s dome.
For precise sun and Venus rising times at your location:
Greatest elongation will occur at 6 UTC on August 15, 2026 (1 a.m. CDT). Venus will be in our evening sky, in the west after sunset. At this elongation, the distance of Venus from the sun on the sky’s dome will be 46 degrees. Then, after greatest elongation, Venus will sink toward the sunset as it races toward its sweep between the Earth and sun around October 24, 2026. Magnitude at greatest elongation: Venus will be shining at magnitude -4.4. Through a telescope: Venus will appear 49% illuminated, near a first quarter phase, 24.48 arcseconds across.
2026 Venus finder charts
All-sky chart showing bright Jupiter and even-brighter Venus about an hour after sunset in the May evening sky. Each day, Venus will ascend higher while Jupiter moves closer to the western horizon. Venus and Jupiter will be 9 degrees apart at month’s end. And they’ll have a spectacular close encounter around June 8. You can’t miss these 2 worlds. They outshine all the stars! Note that these planets lie along the path the sun travels in the daytime (the green line on our chart). Chart via EarthSky.On the evening of May 17, shortly after sunset, check out the pretty waxing crescent moon. It’ll hang low in the western sky after sunset. And it’ll be near the brilliant planet Venus. Look for them about an hour after sunset. Higher in the sky is the bright planet Jupiter. They’ll set a couple hours after sunset. Keep any eye on the 2 bright planets. They will be only 3-moon-widths apart around June 8. Spectacular! Also, look for the delicate glow of earthshine on the unlit side of the moon. That’s light reflected off the Earth. Chart via EarthSky.On May 18, about 60 minutes after sunset, the waxing crescent moon will lie close to Venus. It’ll be glowing with earthshine. That’s light reflected off the Earth. On May 19, as darkness falls, the moon will lie between Venus and Jupiter. Then, on May 20, the moon will float close to Jupiter and the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. They’ll set before midnight. Chart via EarthSky.
Venus and Jupiter in May
Brilliant Venus lies above the western horizon as darkness falls. Bright Jupiter shines higher in the sky. Throughout the month, the 2 planets will move closer to each other. They will have a spectacular close encounter around June 8. They’ll be about 9 degrees apart at the end of May. And both of them will set before midnight by month’s end. Chart via EarthSky.For viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, on the last few days of May, little Mercury will appear in the bright evening twilight low above the western horizon. Brilliant Venus and bright Jupiter will shine nearby. Mercury will reach its greatest distance from the sun on June 15. Chart via EarthSky.For viewers in the Southern Hemisphere, on the last few days of May, little Mercury will appear in the bright evening twilight low above the western horizon. Brilliant Venus and bright Jupiter will shine nearby. Mercury will reach its greatest distance from the sun on June 15. Chart via EarthSky.
A comparison of elongations
Not all of Venus’ greatest elongations are created equal. That’s because the farthest from the sun that Venus can ever appear on the sky’s dome is about 47.3 degrees. On the other hand, the least distance is around 45.4 degrees.
Elongations are also higher or lower depending on the time of year they occur and your location on Earth.
A comparison chart of Venus elongations in 2026 and 2027. Gray areas represent evening apparitions (eastward elongation). The blue area represents morning apparitions (westward elongation). The top figures are the maximum elongations, reached at the top dates shown beneath. Curves show the altitude of the planet above the horizon at sunrise or sunset, for latitude 40 degrees north (thick line) and 35 degrees south (thin). Maxima are reached at the parenthesized dates below (40 degrees north bold). Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.
More Venus evening elongation comparisons for 2026
Venus’ greatest evening elongation in 2026 from the Northern Hemisphere as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month. Dots show the actual positions of Venus every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.Venus’ greatest evening elongation in 2026 from the Southern Hemisphere as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month. Dots show the actual positions of Venus every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.
Venus events in 2026
January 6, 2026: Superior conjunction (passed behind sun from Earth) August 15, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening) October 24, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) January 3, 2027: Greatest elongation (morning)
Bottom line: Look for Venus after sunset! It’s high in the August evening sky for all to see. Look west for a dazzling point of light.
The EarthSky team has a blast bringing you daily updates on your cosmos and world. We love your photos and welcome your news tips. Earth, Space, Sun, Human, Tonight. Since 1994.
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