Jupiter and Venus put on a spectacular performance as they met in the twilight sky on June 9 during a close planetary conjunction as Mercury lurked nearby — and we've got the photos to prove it!The planetary trio have been locked in a mesmerizing slow dance in the western sunset sky over the past few weeks, forming a spectacular line-up before breaking ranks in dramatic fashion, as Venus beat a slow but inexorable path towards Jupiter.The cosmic dance came to a climax on June 9, as Jupiter and Venus reached conjunction while shining less than 2 degrees from one another amongst the stars of the constellation Gemini.Read on to see spectacular images of the close planetary approach, as captured by the global astrophotography community.June 2026 Venus-Jupiter conjunction in photos Astrophotographer Josh Dury snapped a gorgeous view of Venus and Jupiter meeting in the skies above the prehistoric Avebury stone circles in Wiltshire, U.K., on June 8, as the bright stars Castor and Pollux glowed off to their right."These two stones almost appear to mirror the angle of the planets," Dury noted in an email to Space.com. "Almost like a couple gazing up to the wonders of the universe."
Jupiter and Venus glow in the skies over the ancient Avebury stone circles in the UK. (Image credit: Josh Dury)Our next view was captured by Cheng Xin as the planetary duo shone brightly in the skies over the city of Shenzhen in the Guangdong Province of China — close enough to fit comfortably in the field of view of a pair of 10x50 binoculars.
