Venus, Moon and Spica align before dawn on 7 November 2026

You can spot brilliant Venus joining the waning crescent Moon and Spica in the pre-dawn sky on 7 November 2026, The Guardian reported on 2 November 2026. The paper’s Starwatch column sets the UK reference view at London at 0600 GMT, facing east-south-east, where the three objects will appear as a compact grouping low above the horizon before dawn. The column calls the trio a striking trifecta, highlighting its visual appeal.

Venus outshines the other two objects, making it the easiest member of the trio to identify first; its bright glow dominates the morning sky. Once viewers find Venus, they can look next to it to locate Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, which lies roughly 250 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in one year, so the starlight now reaching us left Spica about 250 years ago. Identifying Spica as Virgo’s brightest star helps confirm that the correct star sits beside the brilliant planet.

On the morning of 7 November the Moon will be a thin waning crescent, only two days from new and with just 4% of its Earth‐facing side illuminated, creating a delicate silver sliver against the still‐dark sky. Observers may also see earthshine, a faint glow on the unlit portion of the Moon caused by sunlight reflected from Earth, which can give the dark side a ghostly outline. Earthshine is sunlight reflected from Earth that faintly lights the Moon’s unlit portion.

Because the trio sits low above the horizon, a clear view of the east‐south‐east is essential; buildings, trees or other obstructions along that direction can block the sight. The sky at 0600 GMT remains relatively dark, but the approaching sunrise will gradually brighten the atmosphere and hide the fainter stars. In the southern hemisphere the three objects stand higher in the eastern sky before dawn, offering a more comfortable view above the horizon.

On Monday, 17 August 2026, about 40 to 50 minutes after sunset, a waxing crescent Moon roughly 30% illuminated could be seen low in the western sky alongside Venus and Spica. The three set together after dark, and viewers were advised to find a clear, dark spot with an unobstructed western horizon and minimal light pollution. The August event demonstrated that the trio can be seen with the naked eye, though binoculars help bring Spica into view as twilight fades.

By the next evening, 18 August, the Moon had moved farther east, with Spica positioned between Venus and the Moon as the crescent grew to about 40% illumination. On 20 August the nearly 60% illuminated waxing Moon reached the brightest star of Scorpius, passing especially close before setting around the middle of the night. The Moon’s illumination increased from roughly 40% to nearly 60% over these two days. Its position shifted from the vicinity of Spica in Virgo to the star in Scorpius, tracking its path across the sky.

In early September 2026, Venus appeared just after sunset and was joined by Spica on 1 and 2 September, forming a post‐summer conjunction visible from Earth. The pair appeared roughly two full‐moon widths apart before Venus drifted away from the star by mid‐month. The New York Post, citing earthsky.org, described Venus as the second rock from the sun and noted the timing and separation of the event. This earlier meeting provided another chance to observe the planet and the star in close proximity.

By the evening of 6–7 September, Venus stood side by side with Spica as the pair set together after sunset, offering another close pairing. An hour after sunset the pair was just 3° high in the west, with about 4.7° separating them, using local times for 40° N 90° W. Astronomy Magazine recommended an observing site slightly above the surroundings, such as a hill or parking garage, and noted the pair sets around 8:45 P.M. local daylight time. The low altitude of the pair at that time required a horizon clear of trees and buildings to be seen well.

Both Venus and Spica are visible to the naked eye, with Venus appearing as a bright white pinprick and Spica as a fainter blue‐and‐white speck once the sky darkens sufficiently. Binoculars help bring Spica into clearer view as twilight fades, and the close pair fits easily in a telescope’s field of view for a nightscape photo that can be captured even with a cellphone. No telescope is necessary, and a clear vantage point away from buildings, trees and other obstructions, such as a balcony or beach, is recommended for optimal viewing.