The moon and Venus will shine vividly alongside a bright star in the early morning in a striking celestial rendezvous that should be visible across the U.S.
But unless you’re willing to wake up before the sunrise, you just might miss a special celestial phenomenon that requires no equipment – just the naked eye – to observe.
The cosmic meetup, known as a conjunction, is set to occur between the moon, Venus and the star Regulus, NASA said in a monthly skywatching guide. The upcoming close approach of the objects represents another opportunity for skygazers to see a conjunction soon after Venus and Jupiter prominently shared a section of the night sky for much of August.
Because the conjunction trio are among the brightest objects in our solar system, witnessing the phenomenon should be incredibly easy from Earth – as long as pesky clouds don’t spoil the view.
Here’s what to know about the Venus-moon-Regulus conjunction, how to see the three bright objects in September and a look at the cloud forecast in the United States.
What is a planetary conjunction?
A conjunction is an astronomical event in which at least two planets – or, in this case, other celestial bodies – appear to our vantage from Earth to be close together in the sky.
Even though the planets are in reality still tens of millions of miles apart, the events present a special opportunity for astronomers and casual stargazers to see multiple worlds in our solar system at one time.
So, what causes conjunctions to take place?
As planets in our solar system orbit the sun at varying speeds, sometimes their orbital paths bring them close together on the same side of the sun. The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
When this event lines up with our view from Earth, we get a conjunction, according to the nonprofit Planetary Society.
When is Venus, moon, Regulus conjunction?
The waning crescent moon and the brilliant planet Venus appear close together in the dawn sky in this Nov. 9, 2023, photo made through an 8-inch telescope. The two bodies will pair up again at dawn on Sept. 19 when the bright star Regulus will also appear near them.
The trio of celestial objects in conjunction should be visible Friday, Sept. 19, after sunset and before sunrise.
The upcoming conjunction will be a party between the moon – Earth’s only natural satellite – as well as a star named Regulus in the constellation Leo and Venus. The second planet from the sun, Venus is often referred to as Earth’s twin since both bodies are rocky and share a similar orbit.
Where, how can I see celestial conjunction in September? Tips
Sky chart showing a conjunction between the moon, Venus, and Regulus in the eastern sky before sunrise on September 19, 2025
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the U.S., spotting the conjunction is as easy as locating the moon.
Look east in the early pre-dawn hours toward the waning crescent moon as it sets in the sky. The moon will be located near Venus and Regulus, Chelsea Gohd, a science communicator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, explained in a video.
Seek out locations with unobstructed views of the horizons and check the weather forecast to ensure skies will be clear. DarkSky International is a U.S nonprofit that maintains a list of designated dark sky communities around the world, including 163 in the United States.
Weather, cloud forecast for US
Of course, clouds in the sky could also hamper the view.
The National Weather Service shared a graphic showing during cloud cover on the morning of Friday, Sept. 19 during when the celestial conjunction would be best seen. The numbers represent the percentage of cloud cover. The gray areas are the cloudiest.
This graphic from the National Weather Service shows cloud cover in the United States on the morning of Friday, Sept. 19.
Do you need a telescope to see Venus, moon, Regulus conjunction?
While telescopes certainly will enhance the view, spectators don’t necessarily need any equipment to spot Venus, the moon and Regulus in the pre-dawn sky from the Northern Hemisphere.
That’s because after the sun, Venus and the moon are the two brightest objects in our night sky. Furthermore, Regulus is regarded as one of the brightest stars visible to Earth.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the bright star next to the moon? Venus, Regulus conjunction