Venus and Jupiter’s close approach on 9 June 2026 was one of the major talking points among stargazers and astrophotographers throughout spring and early summer.

Once Venus emerged into the morning sky around April 2026, the two planets moved closer together with each passing evening, culminating in the closest approach on 9 June.

Of course, the two planets weren’t really close together, but just appeared that way, as seen from Earth.

Star chart showing the positions of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon, 8–10 June 2026. Credit: Pete LawrenceStar chart showing the positions of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon, 8–10 June 2026. Credit: Pete Lawrence

If you missed seeing the close encounter of Venus and Jupiter on 9 June, the two planets will still be visible for much of the month, but are now moving away from one another.

What’s more, Jupiter will soon be lost in the evening glare. So if you haven’t seen the planets yet, get out on your first available night and spot them in the west.

A particularly good opportunity will arise on 16–18 June, when the crescent Moon will join Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky.

Meanwhile, here are some of the best images of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury captured on 9 June 2026, and in the evenings leading up to the close conjunction.

Chirag Upreti captured this image of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury over the New York City skyline, 3 June 2026 at 20:05 local time. Chirag says: Chirag Upreti captured this image of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury over the New York City skyline, 3 June 2026 at 20:05 local time. Equipment: Sony A7R3 camera, Sony 24-70mm lens at 56mm. Exposure: Single, ISO 250, f/8, 0.8s shutter speed

Venus and Jupiter are the stargazing event of the moment, and this week, Monday and Tuesday evening, they're at their closest point together. The planet pair are visible in the western sky after sunset, and look like the two brightest stars in the early evening sky. Teresa Molinaro captured this view of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury from Sicily, Italy on 5 June 2026 at 21:16 local time. Venus and Jupiter are the two bright 'stars' above the silhouetted figure, while Mercury is a small dot above the city lights. Teresa says: Teresa Molinaro captured this view of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury from Sicily, Italy on 5 June 2026 at 21:16 local time. Venus and Jupiter are the two bright ‘stars’ above the silhouetted figure, while Mercury is a small dot above the city lights. Equipment: Fujifilm X-T30 II camera, Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS lens, K&F Concept tripod. Exposure: one shot, ISO 500, f/4, 0.33s

Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Gemini are visible in this beautiful image captured Roberto Ortu from Cabras, Sardinia, Italy, 6 June 2026, 22:03 local time. "This is a photo clearly showing the planets Jupiter and Venus, which are increasingly close to the close conjunction on 9 June," says Roberto. "Also visible are the planet Mercury in the lower right and stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini at the top of the image." Equipment: Canon EOS R100 DSLR camera, RF-S 18-45mm lens Exposure: ISO 3200, f/6.3, focal length 45mm, 4s Software: Digital Photo ProfessionalVenus, Jupiter, Mercury and Gemini are visible in this beautiful image captured Roberto Ortu from Cabras, Sardinia, Italy, 6 June 2026, 22:03 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R100 DSLR camera, RF-S 18-45mm lens. Exposure: ISO 3200, f/6.3, focal length 45mm, 4s. Software: Digital Photo Professional

Thanks to Giovanni Passalacqua for sending us this image of Venus and Jupiter side by side in the evening sky from Ragusa, Sicily, Italy last night, 7 June 2026 at 21:21 local time Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 35mm lens Exposure: ISO 1250, f/4.5, 3.9s Software: Photoshop #venus #jupiter #venusjupiterGiovanni Passalacqua sent us this image of Venus and Jupiter side by side in the evening sky from Ragusa, Sicily, Italy, 7 June 2026 at 21:21 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 35mm lens. Exposure: ISO 1250, f/4.5, 3.9s. Software: Photoshop

Paolo Barrella has captured an amazing piece of astrophotography, showing Venus and Jupiter side-by-side, setting on the western horizon just after sunset, 7 June 2026. "This is a composition I captured of the setting of Venus and Jupiter, taken two days before their closest apparent approach," Paolo says. "The image was created by stacking 53 shots taken at 2-minute intervals from Scandicci, Italy from 21:51 till 23:35, local time." Equipment: Canon EOS R8 DSLR camera, Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens. Exposure: 50mm, individual shots captured f/11 with 1/6s exposure #venus #jupiter #venusjupiterPaolo Barrella has captured a composite image showing Venus and Jupiter side-by-side, setting on the western horizon just after sunset, 7 June 2026. The image was created by stacking 53 shots taken at 2-minute intervals from 21:51 till 23:35, local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R8 DSLR camera, Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens. Exposure: 50mm, individual shots captured f/11 with 1/6s exposure

Sonali Deshmukh captured this view of Venus and Jupiter from Omaha, Nebraska, USA on 7 June 2026. Equipment: Canon EOS R6 DSLR camera #venus #jupiter #venusjupiter #stargazing #astronomySonali Deshmukh captured this view of Venus and Jupiter from Omaha, Nebraska, USA on 7 June 2026. Equipment: Canon EOS R6 DSLR camera

Giovanni Passalacqua captured this view of Venus and Jupiter from Punta Secca, Sicily, Italy, 8 June 2026 at 21:33 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 35mm lens, Manfrotto tripod. Exposure: ISO 1000, f/2.2, 2.8s Software: PhotoshopGiovanni Passalacqua captured this view of Venus and Jupiter from Punta Secca, Sicily, Italy, 8 June 2026 at 21:33 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 35mm lens, Manfrotto tripod. Exposure: ISO 1000, f/2.2, 2.8s. Software: Photoshop

Venus and Jupiter captured by Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project, Manciano, Italy, 8 June 2026Venus and Jupiter captured by Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project, Manciano, Italy, 8 June 2026

Thanks to Roberto Ortu for sending us this image of Venus and Jupiter, just hours away from the close conjunction, captured from Marina di Torre Grande, Sardinia, Italy, 8 June 2026, 22:08 local time. Roberto says: "This is a photo clearly showing the planets Jupiter and Venus, now just hours away from the close conjunction of 9 June 2026. "At the bottom right, you can also see the planet Mercury and, at the top of the image, you can see Pollux and Castor, the brightest stars in Gemini." Equipment: Canon EOS R100 DSLR camera, RF-S 18–45mm lens Exposure: ISO 1600, f/5.6, 4s #venus #jupiter #venusjupiter #stargazing #astrophotographyRoberto Ortu for sent us this image of Venus and Jupiter, just hours away from the close conjunction, captured from Marina di Torre Grande, Sardinia, Italy, 8 June 2026, 22:08 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R100 DSLR camera, RF-S 18–45mm lens. Exposure: ISO 1600, f/5.6, 4s

Venus and Jupiter over Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy, captured by Rosario CataniaVenus and Jupiter over Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy, captured by Rosario Catania

Venus and Jupiter reflected on the sea, captured by Giovanni Passalacqua from Punta Secca, Sicily, Italy, 8 June 2026, 21:55 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 35mm lens, Manfrotto tripod Exposure: ISO 2000, f/2.2, 3s Software: PhotoshopVenus and Jupiter reflected on the sea, captured by Giovanni Passalacqua from Punta Secca, Sicily, Italy, 8 June 2026, 21:55 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 35mm lens, Manfrotto tripod. Exposure: ISO 2000, f/2.2, 3s. Software: Photoshop

This is a fantastic composite image showing 30 days of Venus and Jupiter closing in on one another in the evening sky, captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata, India. Equipment: Nikon Z6II camera, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Lens Exposure: ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/30s - 5s Soumyadeep says: "The image is a composite collage of 30 days of Venus–Jupiter, coming closer to each other till their conjunction on 9 June 2026. Starting from 11 May, each slice of the collage was captured every day, till 9 June. "On most of the days, the images were captured during civil twilight in order to showcase the varying colours of the twilight sky along with the planets. However, on some occasions, due to the presence of clouds, images were captured during nautical and astronomical twilight. "While capturing the images, the camera was kept level to the horizon and the planets were placed right in the middle of the frame (as much as possible). The images were captured with the same camera, the same lens at the same focal length. "Processing involved cropping all the images and placing the planets equidistant from the centre, to show their movement with respect to one another." #venus #jupiter #venusjupiter #stargazing #astrophotographyThis is a fantastic composite image showing 30 days of Venus and Jupiter closing in on one another in the evening sky, captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata, India. Equipment: Nikon Z6II camera, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens. Exposure: ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/30s – 5s

Emma Guest captured this view of Venus and Jupiter from Peterborough, UK on 9 June 2026 at 22:40 local time. Equipment: iPhoneEmma Guest captured this view of Venus and Jupiter from Peterborough, UK on 9 June 2026 at 22:40 local time. Equipment: iPhone

João Miguel Santo captured this artistic image of Venus and Jupiter from Chão das Pias Viewpoint (Miradouro do Chão das Pias), Porto de Mós, Portugal, 9 June 2026. João says: "This photograph captures the closest apparent approach of the year between Venus and Jupiter, reaching a minimum angular distance of 1.6 degrees. "The planetary conjunction is framed through the architectural oval structure of the Chão das Pias viewpoint during twilight." Equipment: Canos R6 MKII DSLR camera, RF 24-105 F4 lens Exposure: ISO 320, 24mm f/5.6, 1s Software: Adobe Lightroom #venus #jupiter #venusjupiter #stargazing #astrophotographyJoão Miguel Santo captured this artistic image of Venus and Jupiter from Chão das Pias Viewpoint (Miradouro do Chão das Pias), Porto de Mós, Portugal, 9 June 2026. Equipment: Canos R6 MKII DSLR camera, RF 24-105 F4 lens. Exposure: ISO 320, 24mm f/5.6, 1s. Software: Adobe Lightroom

Paolo Palma captured this image of the Venus–Jupiter conjunction against the backdrop of the Quadriga of Unity at the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome, Italy, 9 June 2026. Equipment: Nikon coolpix p510 Paolo Palma captured this image of the Venus–Jupiter conjunction against the backdrop of the Quadriga of Unity at the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome, Italy, 9 June 2026. Equipment: Nikon coolpix p510

Thanks to James M for sending us this image of Venus and Jupiter close together in the western sky, captured from Ryetop Playing Fields, Rainham, Kent, UK, 9 June 2026, 22:25 local time. Equipment: Nikon D80 camera, 50mm lens Exposure: ISO 500, f/3.2, 1/13 sec Software: PhotoshopThanks to James M for sending us this image of Venus and Jupiter close together in the western sky, captured from Ryetop Playing Fields, Rainham, Kent, UK, 9 June 2026, 22:25 local time. Equipment: Nikon D80 camera, 50mm lens. Exposure: ISO 500, f/3.2, 1/13 sec. Software: Photoshop
A beautiful view of the Venus–Jupiter conjunction over the Tree of Life, Bahrain, captured by Premjith Narayanan, 9 June 2026. Equipment: Canon EOS R3 DSLR camera, RF24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Exposure: ISO 125, f/4, 0.8s. Software: PhotoshopA beautiful view of the Venus–Jupiter conjunction over the Tree of Life, Bahrain, captured by Premjith Narayanan, 9 June 2026. Equipment: Canon EOS R3 DSLR camera, RF24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Exposure: ISO 125, f/4, 0.8s. Software: Photoshop

Have you captured an image of the night sky? Send us your images and they could appear in a future issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine