Venus Jupiter Conjunction June 9 2026: India Guide

By Dr. Sofia Reyes, Cosmology & Exploration Correspondent | Last updated: May 26, 2026 | Reviewed by Zendar Universe Stellar Astrophysics team

On the evening of June 9, 2026, Venus and Jupiter — the two brightest planets in Earth's night sky — will appear just 1°36' apart (about three Full-Moon diameters) low above the west-northwest horizon, capping a month-long approach in the constellation Gemini. This highly anticipated Venus Jupiter conjunction June 9 2026 requires no special equipment to enjoy. Venus blazes at magnitude −4.0, while Jupiter shines at magnitude −1.9 (per in-the-sky.org / JPL DE430).

When Is the Venus-Jupiter Conjunction in June 2026?

To track the Venus and Jupiter close approach 2026 accurately, astronomers distinguish between two precise moments:

• Same-right-ascension conjunction – June 9, 2026 at 12:35 UTC / 18:05 IST / 8:35 AM EDT — separation 1°38' (per in-the-sky.org).
• Closest approach (appulse) – June 9, 2026 at 19:48 UTC / 01:18 IST on June 10 / 3:48 PM EDT — minimum separation 1°36' (per in-the-sky.org).

For Indian observers, the formal conjunction happens during daylight/sunset, and the closest approach happens after the planets have set below the western horizon. Therefore, the best practical evenings to witness the planetary conjunction June 2026 are BOTH June 8 AND June 9, as noted by in-the-sky.org.

Venus-Jupiter Conjunction Time in India (IST) — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Surat, Kolkata

Here are the specific Venus Jupiter conjunction India time windows for major cities:

• Mumbai – Sunset 7:10 PM IST | Best viewing window: 7:40 PM – 8:40 PM | Planets set: ~9:35 PM | Direction: WNW
• Surat – Sunset 7:14 PM IST | Best viewing window: 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM | Planets set: ~9:40 PM | Direction: WNW
• Delhi – Sunset 7:21 PM IST | Best viewing window: 7:50 PM – 8:50 PM | Planets set: ~9:45 PM | Direction: WNW
• Bengaluru – Sunset 6:48 PM IST | Best viewing window: 7:20 PM – 8:20 PM | Planets set: ~9:15 PM | Direction: WNW
• Kolkata – Sunset 6:18 PM IST | Best viewing window: 6:50 PM – 7:50 PM | Planets set: ~8:45 PM | Direction: WNW

Per in-the-sky.org (last updated May 23, 2026): "They will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 30 minutes after the Sun."

How to See the Venus-Jupiter Conjunction with the Naked Eye

Figuring out how to see Venus Jupiter June 9 2026 is straightforward. Find an unobstructed WNW horizon and wait 30 minutes after local sunset. Look low and west-northwest. Venus (mag −4.0) is the brighter and lower of the pair. Jupiter is the slightly fainter starlike body just above-left. While in-the-sky.org lists Jupiter at −1.9, some NASA Science What's Up partner sources cite Jupiter as faint as −1.7 because it is dimming toward its June 24 solar conjunction.

Mercury is also visible low to the right, forming a three-planet line that will tighten into a separate Mercury-Venus-Jupiter alignment around June 12, 2026.

Binoculars and Telescope Tips: What You'll See Through Glass

While naked-eye viewing is spectacular, optics reveal fascinating details:

• Through 7×50 binoculars – both planets fit comfortably in the same field of view, plus all four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) appear as pinpricks beside Jupiter.
• Through a 70mm short refractor at ~40× – Venus shows a clean half-phase (dichotomy) because it is 4 days past greatest eastern elongation on June 5; Jupiter shows two equatorial cloud belts though detail is muted because it is only 15 days from its June 24, 2026 solar conjunction.

Safety warning: Do not point optics at the western sky until the Sun is fully below the horizon to prevent severe eye damage.

Astrophotography: How to Photograph the Venus-Jupiter Conjunction

• Smartphone – Use night mode, tap to focus on Venus, and brace your phone on a tripod or wall to eliminate shake.
• DSLR/mirrorless – Use a 50–135mm lens, ISO 400–800, f/2.8–4, and a 1–2 sec exposure. Shoot 25–40 min after sunset for ideal blue-twilight balance.
• Composition tip – Include a recognizable foreground like a treeline, monument, or skyline to give scale, echoing BBC Sky at Night's Pete Lawrence guidance on Venus Jupiter conjunction photography.

Why This Conjunction Matters Astronomically

This is the last evening pairing of Venus and Jupiter before Jupiter slides into solar conjunction on June 24, 2026. As noted by EarthSky verbatim: "It'll pass into the sun's glare in July 2026, moving behind the sun from Earth. It'll emerge in the east before dawn after about mid-August."

Both planets are currently in the Venus Jupiter conjunction Gemini alignment, near the bright stars Castor and Pollux. Remember, this apparent closeness is line-of-sight only. Venus is about 80 million km from Earth on June 9, while Jupiter is roughly 900 million km away (≈ 11× farther).

FAQ — Venus-Jupiter Conjunction June 9, 2026

What time is the Venus-Jupiter conjunction on June 9, 2026 in India?
Same right ascension occurs at 18:05 IST on June 9; closest approach is at 01:18 IST on June 10. Practical viewing on both June 8 and June 9 evenings, ~7:40 PM–8:40 PM IST.

How close will Venus and Jupiter appear on June 9, 2026?
1°38' apart at the formal conjunction; 1°36' at closest approach (about three Full-Moon widths). (Per in-the-sky.org / JPL DE430.)

Do I need a telescope to see the Venus-Jupiter conjunction?
No — both planets are easily naked-eye visible. A telescope adds Venus's half-phase and Jupiter's belts and moons.

Is the Venus-Jupiter conjunction the same as Shukra-Guru Yuti?
Yes, "Shukra-Guru Yuti" is the Vedic name for the same astronomical event. This article covers the astronomy only.

How bright are Venus and Jupiter on June 9, 2026?
Venus at magnitude −4.0 and Jupiter at magnitude −1.9 per in-the-sky.org (JPL DE430 ephemeris). Some sources list Jupiter as faint as −1.7 because it is dimming as it approaches its June 24 solar conjunction.

When is the next Venus-Jupiter conjunction after June 2026?
The next formal conjunction is August 25, 2027, but per Dr. Jeffrey L. Hunt of whenthecurveslineup.com (citing U.S. Naval Observatory MICA) it "occurs in bright sunlight" and is unobservable. The first naked-eye-visible pairing thereafter is November 10, 2028, when "the planets are 0.8° apart in the east-southeast before sunrise."

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