What Is That Bright Star? When To See May’s Moonlit ‘Planet Parade’

InnovationScienceWhat Is That Bright Star? When To See May’s Moonlit ‘Planet Parade’ByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 15, 2026, 01:00pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Exactly how, when and where to see Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury in May 2026. gettyHave you seen the bright star in the west after sunset? It’s Venus — and it’s about to do something spectacular.On June 9-11, Earth’s sister planet will appear to tangle with Jupiter in the night sky — again, just after sunset — as the two planets’ orbital paths momentarily align as seen from Earth.It comes as a few planets are now visible in the pre-dawn hours, making May’s “planet parade” a two-session affair, but unmissable all the same. If you want to get a solar system-wide perspective on exactly what’s going on, take a look at The Planets Today for a live view. Here’s what you’ll see, and when, this weekend and beyond:Venus, with a crescent moon on the right — exactly what skywatchers will see 45 minutes after sunset on Monday, May 18, 2026.gettyLook West After Sunset For Venus, Jupiter And A Crescent MoonIt’s perhaps the easiest kind of stargazing there is — you have dinner, then head outside to watch the planets dance in the post-sunset night sky. Only possible in May, a post-sunset planet-spotting contest — about 45 minutes after sunset where you are — will get you sights of both Venus and Jupiter in the southwestern twilight sky.It’s a new moon on Saturday, May 16, but in the days after, a crescent will emerge beneath Venus and, over the evenings next week, climb through — and add to the splendor of — the planet parade. In time, it will be spectacular, as Venus and Jupiter pass each other closely on June 9 — and this weekend, see both within the constellatio...