![\"Kiran](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kiran-Parghi.jpg\")
Credit: Kiran Parghi<\/p>\nAs of April 2026, Venus is in the \u2018slow bake\u2019 phase of its reappearance into the evening sky, moving along a distant section of its orbit in such a way that its separation from the Sun is increasing slowly.<\/p>\n
Venus It starts April 2026 setting two hours after sunset; by the end of the month, it sets two hours and 45 minutes after the Sun.<\/p>\n
Credit: Kiran Parghi<\/p>\n
Changes in Venus\u2019s telescopic appearance are also subtle.<\/p>\n
On 1 April, it appears 93%-lit and 10 arcseconds across. By 30 April, that changes only slightly to 88%-lit and 11 arcseconds across.<\/p>\n
Telescopically, this makes Venus a challenge, but there are still plenty of other interesting things to look out for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the evenings of 18\u201319 April, mag. \u20133.8 Venus will be joined by a thin waxing crescent Moon, 2%-lit on the 18th and 7%-lit on the 19th, when the Moon also sits immediately east of the Pleiades.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/venus-uranus-pleiades-april-2026.jpg\")
The view looking west-northwest on 23 April 2026 at 21:50 BST (20:50 UT), when Venus, Uranus and the Pleiades are close together in the night sky. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/p>\n
On 23 April, Venus will have moved to a position 3.6\u00b0 due south of the Pleiades and 0.8\u00b0 north-northwest of Uranus.<\/p>\n
At the end of April, Venus\u2019s path takes it north of the Hyades open cluster, although they\u2019ll only be visible once both are low in darkening twilight.<\/p>\n
During spring, the ecliptic forms a steep angle with the western horizon at sunset, which means the evening planets are elevated and well placed.<\/p>\n
For Venus, this timing is somewhat unfortunate: when it\u2019s well positioned in the spring sky, we\u2019ll get to see the small, gibbous phase; as it moves into the more exciting crescent phase in August, the ecliptic\u2019s angle to the western horizon at sunset becomes shallow.<\/p>\n
As a result, when it\u2019s an attractive crescent during the summer, Venus will remain at a low altitude after sunset.<\/p>\n
Venus in April 2026 \u2013\u00a0at a glance<\/p>\n
Best time to see: 30 April, 1 hour after sunset
\nAltitude: 13\u00b0\u00a0
\nLocation: Taurus
\nDirection: West-northwest
\nFeatures: Phase, subtle atmospheric markings
\nRecommended equipment: 100mm or larger<\/p>\n