Your last chance until 2028 to see Venus this bright
The planet will appear as a brilliant point of light above the western horizon after sunset.
Rise and shine early in the morning to watch Jupiter and Venus appear close to together in a conjunction on Aug. 12. You don’t need a telescope to view this astronomy event.
Venus will light up the sky on Friday night, offering dazzling views for skywatchers and astronomy lovers.
On the evening of Sept. 18, viewers can look west and witness Venus reach peak brilliance, according to NASA. The planet will not be difficult to spot, making the event easier for everyone to enjoy even if you do not have access to a telescope or binoculars.
“Shortly after sunset, Venus will stand out as a brilliant point of light low above the western horizon, outshining every star around it,” NASA wrote. “A clear view of the horizon will give you the best chance to catch it before it sets.”
A sky chart looking west after sunset on Sept. 18, 2026. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
The sixth largest planet and the second from the sun, Venus is the Earth's closest planetary neighbor, according to the space agency. It is also the hottest planet in our solar system and has a surface hot enough to melt lead at about 872 degrees Fahrenheit. Below its dense clouds, Venus' surface is also home to deformed mountains and volcanoes.
As it sped away from Venus, NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft captured this seemingly peaceful view of a planet the size of Earth, wrapped in a dense, global cloud layer. But, contrary to its serene appearance, the clouded globe of Venus is a world of intense heat, crushing atmospheric pressure and clouds of corrosive acid. This image updates the original data using modern image processing software. (Credit: NASA)
New missions will offer a closer look at Venus' past and present
NASA is currently planning two new missions to Venus: DAVINCI and VERITAS.
Named after renowned Renaissance scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci, DAVINCI stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry and Imaging. Consisting of a spacecraft and a probe, it will aim to study the origin, evolution and present conditions of the planet to determine if it was once habitable through a series of flybys.
The VERITAS spacecraft is a solar-powered Venus orbiter based on the design of NASA’s successful MAVEN spacecraft. Operating in a low, circular orbit around Venus, VERITAS will use its instruments to collect “high-resolution, global maps of the hellish surface hidden beneath the clouds.”
“VERITAS and NASA’s DAVINCI mission will be the first U.S.-led missions to Venus since Magellan three decades ago,” the space agency wrote in its VERITAS overview.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is also planning a Venus mission, which is set to launch in the 2030s, according to NASA. EnVision, a Venus orbiter, will study the planet’s history, climate and activity from its inner core to its upper atmosphere.
The northern hemisphere of Venus is displayed in this global view of the planet created with data from NASA's Magellan spacecraft. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
What to watch for next in September's night sky
After brilliant Venus, September has two more upcoming astronomy events. Early next week, the autumnal equinox takes place on the evening of Sept. 22, which marks the beginning of astronomical fall. The event happens when the sun’s rays cross the equator, causing nights to become longer around the world.
A few days later, the first full moon of fall will rise. Known as the Harvest Moon, it is one of the most popular full moons of the year.
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