The Moon And Venus Are About To Have Their Closest Meeting Of 2026

Topline This week's headline sight happens before dawn on Monday and Tuesday, when a waning crescent moon, Mars, brilliant Jupiter and bright star Regulus cluster in the eastern sky. Meanwhile, after spending most of 2026 as the 'Evening Star,' Venus now shines brightly in the predawn sky as the brilliant 'Morning Star.' Save an early start for Saturday, when a slender 3%-lit crescent moon appears just a degree from Venus, the closest such conjunction of the year. The Southern Taurid meteor shower is also active this week. Here's everything you need to know about stargazing and the night sky from Monday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 8. Timeline Sunday, Nov. 1: Last quarter moon Before dawn, look high in the southern sky for a half-lit moon, officially reaching its last quarter phase at 3:28 p.m. EST. A last quarter moon rises around midnight and stays visible throughout the morning, leaving evening skies free of moonlight for 10 nights—perfect for stargazing. Monday, Nov. 2: The Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Regulus align Get outside about an hour before sunrise and face east for one of November's finest planetary line-ups. At the top will be a 43%-lit waning crescent moon, with reddish Mars very close, and brilliant Jupiter and Regulus (the brightest star in the constellation Leo) just beyond. Together, the four objects will form a line about the width of your fist held at arm's length. Jupiter will be unmistakably the brightest point of light in this striking predawn scene. Tuesday, Nov. 3: Mars, Jupiter, Regulus and the Moon align An encore to yesterday's sight and just as beautiful, Regulus will appear less than a degree from a now 32%-lit waning crescent moon, with brilliant Jupiter above and Mars just beyond. Wednesday, Nov. 4: Venus, the 'Morning Star' Before sunrise, face east-southeast for brilliant Venus, now the brightest planet in Earth's predawn sky. It will be impossible to mistake for a star, shining intensely above the horizon as twilight begins. Look nearby for Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, which Venus is fast approaching ahead of an extremely close conjunction next week. Thursday, Nov. 5: Southern Taurid meteors After dark, look generally east and give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. The Southern Taurid meteor shower is active tonight, and although it's not known for producing large numbers of 'shooting stars,' it has a reputation for occasionally delivering exceptionally bright fireballs. Friday, Nov. 6: Venus and a crescent moon About 45 minutes before sunrise, look very low in the east-southeast for a Venus and a slender 8%-lit waning crescent moon approaching them. You'll need an unobstructed horizon. Saturday, Nov. 7: Venus and a crescent moon Get outside about 45 minutes before sunrise again and look low in the east-southeast for one of the month's most beautiful sights. A slender 3%-lit crescent moon will appear alongside brilliant Venus and Spica nearby. Venus and the moon will be barely a degree apart, making this the closest nighttime conjunction of Venus and the moon in 2026. Winter Stars Return After dark, face east and watch the winter night sky begin to return in earnest. Taurus will climb with orange-red Aldebaran and the compact Pleiades star cluster, while Capella in Auriga shines brightly above. Later in the evening, unmistakable Orion follows them over the eastern horizon, with its three similarly bright belt stars making the constellation easy to identify. Tonight is particularly good for exploring these stars because the moon is almost new and absent from the evening sky. From a dark location, look beneath Orion's Belt later tonight for a faint misty patch — the Orion Nebula, just visible to keen naked eyes under sufficiently dark skies. 4 Enterprise Strategies To Advance Sustainability Impact: An Innovative Model From WWF & HP Inc. As global regulations grow more complex, Forbes Research finds that less than half of enterprises regularly measure their progress in achieving their sustainability goals. Explore four strategies for companies to move sustainability investments from ambition to measurable impact. By Mallory Gafas , Former Staff Constellation Of The Week: Gemini To the left of Orion as it rises is Gemini, marked by two bright stars — Castor and Pollux. These represent the heads of the twin figures in Greek mythology and form one of the sky's most recognizable pairs. Below them, a scattering of fainter stars outlines the twins' bodies, though this part takes a little more effort to trace. Gemini becomes increasingly important over the coming months. It hosts the radiant of the Geminid meteor shower in December and sits within one of the richest regions of the winter sky. What's Next In The Night Sky The dark, moon-free evenings of this week continue into mid-November, offering excellent conditions to explore the now fully established winter constellations as they rise earlier each night. Attention then turns to the Leonid meteor shower, which peaks on Nov. 17–18 and, although modest in activity, can still produce occasional bright meteors under clear skies. Later in the month, on Nov. 21, Mercury reaches greatest western elongation, offering a brief opportunity to spot the elusive planet low in the eastern sky before sunrise. The month builds toward the full moon on November 24, a supermoon that will appear slightly larger and brighter than average. The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium . Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more. Further reading