Evening Sky Parade: Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and a Blue Moon Light Up Late May 2026

On the evenings of 22–24 May 2026 and early June, the western horizon after sunset will display Venus, Jupiter and Mercury together, with the waxing Moon nearby. The planets form a line about 25° wide and will tighten to a closest approach of roughly 1.6° on 9–11 June. A Blue Moon rises on 30–31 May near Antares.

A three-planet parade meets the Moon this weekend. Here's how to see it

Venus is the brightest object, visible 30 minutes after sunset and outshining all other stars. Jupiter lies about 10° to Venus’s upper left; Mercury rises ~10° above the west-northwest horizon, ~15° to Venus’s lower right. Together they span ~25° of sky, a separation narrowing ~1° per day as Venus approaches Jupiter. On 9 June the two bright planets will be ~1.6° apart, about three lunar diameters.

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are lining up in the western sky after sunset this week — and a Blue Moon is sliding past Antares — in a run of evening sky events that won't be matched again for yearsForbesA three-planet parade meets the Moon this weekend. Here's how to see it

Venus and Jupiter’s brightness makes the alignment visible from most urban sites with an unobstructed western horizon. Mercury’s low altitude may need a clear horizon and, per one source, binoculars; another source says it is naked-eye visible in many cities. No telescopes are required.

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are lining up in the western sky after sunset this week — and a Blue Moon is sliding past Antares — in a run of evening sky events that won't be matched again for years

Photos by Giovanni Passalacqua (Sicily) and Amanda Millard (Denmark) show Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon in line. Observers should wait until the Sun fully sets to avoid glare and use a flat, clear west-northwest horizon for the best Mercury view.

A three-planet parade meets the Moon this weekend. Here's how to see it

Forbes advises binoculars for Mercury, whereas SpaceDaily describes the planet as visible from most urban areas without aid. No official astronomical agency statements are cited, and precise local visibility will depend on horizon obstructions and light-pollution levels, which are not quantified in the sources.

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are lining up in the western sky after sunset this week — and a Blue Moon is sliding past Antares — in a run of evening sky events that won't be matched again for years

The Venus–Jupiter conjunction peaks on 9–11 June, followed by a Supermoon on 15 June and the summer solstice on 21 June. Manhattanhenge occurs on 30 May in New York City, coinciding with the Blue Moon.

Forbes

• "Night after night, Venus and Jupiter will appear noticeably closer together in the western sky after sunset, creating a beautiful changing tableau in twilight." — Jamie Carter, Forbes contributor

Forbes

• "Venus is currently the dominant object in the western evening sky, visible as early as 30 minutes after sunset and outshining every other starlike object in the night sky." — SpaceDaily editorial

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are lining up in the western sky after sunset this week — and a Blue Moon is sliding past Antares — in a run of evening sky events that won't be matched again for yearsForbesA three-planet parade meets the Moon this weekend. Here's how to see it

• "The three planets span approximately 25 degrees across the western sky during the peak viewing window." — SpaceDaily editorial

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are lining up in the western sky after sunset this week — and a Blue Moon is sliding past Antares — in a run of evening sky events that won't be matched again for years

• "The two brighter planets will reach their closest approach on June 9, when they will be approximately 1.6 degrees apart, which is roughly three full moon diameters." — SpaceDaily editorial

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are lining up in the western sky after sunset this week — and a Blue Moon is sliding past Antares — in a run of evening sky events that won't be matched again for years