Exactly how, when and where to see Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury in May 2026.
Have you seen the bright star in the west after sunset? It’s Venus — and it’s about to do something spectacular.
On June 9-11, Earth’s sister planet will appear to tangle with Jupiter in the night sky — again, just after sunset — as the two planets’ orbital paths momentarily align as seen from Earth.
It comes as a few planets are now visible in the pre-dawn hours, making May’s “planet parade” a two-session affair, but unmissable all the same. If you want to get a solar system-wide perspective on exactly what’s going on, take a look at The Planets Today for a live view. Here’s what you’ll see, and when, this weekend and beyond:
Venus, with a crescent moon on the right — exactly what skywatchers will see 45 minutes after sunset on Monday, May 18, 2026.
