Topline
Skywatchers are advised to look to the west shortly after sunset on Friday, July 17, and at the same time each evening this weekend, as a delicate crescent moon shines close to a bright Venus. Earth’s sister planet, which is currently getting closer to Earth, will remain a major evening object all through summer. The classic sky sight comes as the Perseid meteor shower begins — one of 2026’s celestial highlights.
On Friday, July 17, 2026, a 17%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine just to the left of Venus in the west after dark.
Jamie Carter
Timeline
Friday, July 17A 17%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine just to the left of Venus in the west after dark. “Earthshine” — sunlight reflected onto the moon’s dark side by Earth — should be visible. This date also sees the beginning of the Perseid meteor shower.
Saturday, July 18A 25%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine farther to the left of Venus in the west after dark. It’s another great night to look for “Earthshine” on the moon.
Sunday, July 19A 34%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine even farther to the left of Venus in the west after dark.
When And Where To Look
The sight of a crescent moon and Venus will be on display low in the west, as seen from mid-north latitudes, from about 45 minutes after sunset for about an hour. Use a sunrise-sunset calculator to get the exact time of sunset where you are. You don’t need binoculars or a telescope — just your naked eyes.
Understanding VENUS in 2026
As Jupiter moves toward a solar conjunction in late July — when it disappears into the glare of the sun, as seen from Earth — Venus becomes the undisputed "Evening Star" for much of the rest of 2026. The planet will reach its greatest elongation — its farthest apparent distance from the sun as seen from Earth — on Aug. 15, 2026. It will then reach its greatest brilliancy in the evening sky on Sept. 18, when it will outshine everything except the moon. That will be despite it being by then a razor-thin crescent. As an inner planet relative to Earth, Venus orbits closer to the sun, so it has phases — like the moon — and rarely appears to stray far from the horizon. After peaking in brightness as it gets closest to Earth, Venus will gradually sink back toward the sun’s glare in October, eventually transitioning into a brilliant “Morning Star” before sunrise early in 2027.
This set of images show the phases and relative size of Venus as seen from Earth as it moves around the Sun. Photograph by Jamie Cooper. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
SSPL via Getty Images
The Perseid Meteor Shower 2026
The Perseids are active from July 17 through August 24, but the shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12-13. The meteors are created by tiny fragments left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at around 37 miles per second (59 km/s), according to the American Meteor Society. For the best places to see it, find a location that looks dark on a light pollution map or find a Dark Sky Place (U.S./global), a Dark Sky Preserve (Canada), a Starlight Destination (global) or a Dark Sky Discovery Site (U.K.). The Perseids will peak just hours after a total solar eclipse visible from Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while a partial solar eclipse will be visible across Western Europe and much of North America — including parts of the U.S. and Canada.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Further reading
ForbesThe Perseid Meteor Shower Begins Today: When To WatchBy Jamie CarterForbesPerseid Meteor Shower Returns This Week Under An ‘Earthshine’ MoonBy Jamie CarterForbesWhy Americans Cannot Ignore August’s Total Solar EclipseBy Jamie Carter