Venus will disappear behind the Moon on 14 September 2026, from 09:30 BST (08:30 UT), in an event known as a lunar occultation.
It’s fair to say that the lunar occultation of Venus on the morning of 14 September will be tricky.
From North America, the occultation won’t be visible because it the whole event happens when the Moon and Venus are below the horizon.
Bbut observers there will instead be treated to a daytime conjunction of the Moon and planet.
From the UK and the rest of Europe, the occultation begins when Venus and the Moon are below the horizon, but the final stages of the event will be visible.
Illustration showing the lunar occultation of Venus, 14 September 2024. Credit: Pete Lawrence
Observing the occultation
The event takes place around 09:30 BST (08:30 UT), when Venus and the Moon are just below the horizon as seen from the centre of the UK.
The Moon’s 12%-lit waxing crescent rises just after 11:00 BST (10:00 UT), its thin appearance and low altitude making it initially difficult to find above the east-southeast horizon.
This won’t give you much time before Venus reappears from occultation at around 11:35 BST (10:35 UT).
A lunar occultation of Venus. Credit: Pete Lawrence
From the UK’s centre, the Moon is 3° above the horizon at this time, so pretty low. On a more positive note, Venus will be bright at mag. –4.4, so it’s definitely worth trying for.
If you view the pair through binoculars or a telescope after reappearance, it should be possible to see the Moon’s 12%-lit 30-arcminute diameter waxing crescent, along with Venus’s 29%-lit tiny 36-arcsecond crescent.
Even if you miss the occultation reappearance, just seeing both crescents together in the sky is quite special.
The pair remain within one binocular field of view until they set at around 20:00 BST (19:00 UT).
If you observe or photograph the lunar occultation of Venus on 14 September 2026, get in touch via contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com