Overview
- Venus passed about one degree north of the bright star Regulus on Thursday, July 9, producing a tight evening pairing low in the west that was easy to spot after sunset.
- Observers at mid‑northern latitudes should look low toward the west in mid‑twilight for the best view, with exact times varying by location and local sunset timing.
- Venus is far brighter than Regulus — roughly magnitude −4.1 versus magnitude +1.4 — so the planet is visible in lingering twilight while the star may need darker sky to stand out.
- A second show comes on July 17 when Venus will appear near a waxing crescent Moon about 3.5 days past new and roughly six degrees to the left, an attractive sight for dusk viewers.
- These July pairings are part of Venus’s post‑conjunction return to the evening sky this year and preview a steady drop in the planet’s height above the western horizon as it moves toward greatest elongation on Aug. 15.