A celestial conjunction you can see just before sunrise — here’s when, where, and how to catch it.
TOLEDO, Ohio — If you’re an early riser (or willing to become one), the morning of Saturday, Sept. 20, promises one of the best naked-eye sky events of the year: a slim crescent moon, the brilliant planet Venus, and the bright star Regulus coming into close alignment in the constellation Leo.
What’s happening
These three celestial objects will appear very near one another in the sky — Venus and Regulus will be especially close (less than ½ degree apart in some regions), forming what astronomers call an ‘ultraclose conjunction.’
The Moon will be a narrow crescent, just a few days away from a new moon. The unlit portion of the Moon may appear faintly visible thanks to Earthshine — sunlight reflecting off Earth and lighting up the dark side.
Venus will outshine Regulus by a large margin — Venus around magnitude -3.8, Regulus much fainter (around +1.3 to +1.4) but still easily visible if skies are reasonably clear.
When and where to look up
Best time: About 1 to 2 hours before sunrise is ideal. The sky will still be dark enough, but the objects will be rising in the east-northeast.
Location: To see the trio clearly, you’ll want an unobstructed view to the horizon in the east-northeast. Trees, buildings, or hills can block low-rise objects early.
Variations by region: Depending on where you are, the three bodies will appear in slightly different arrangements — nearly in a straight line in places, more triangular in others. In some global regions, there will even be a lunar occultation of Venus, where the Moon passes in front of Venus.
Why it’s special
Triple conjunctions involving bright visible objects like Venus, the Moon, and a first-magnitude star are not everyday events. This one is especially tight in angular separation.
Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo and sits very close to the ecliptic — the path the Sun, Moon, and planets trace across our sky. Because of that, conjunctions near Regulus are especially noticeable.
This is one of those moments that reminds you: the early morning sky can be just as magical as the night sky. So set your alarm, and look east-northeast just before dawn. Venus, the Moon, and Regulus are putting on a show worth stepping outside for.
This article was published by Kaylee Bowers on 2025-09-19 15:58:00
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