What is the phase of Venus tonight?
Venus is in the waning gibbous phase and is 99% illuminated in its phase cycle on January 13, 2026. Through a telescope, it appears as a nearly circular disk and about 9.8 arcseconds in diameter.
Phases of Venus in order
Venus goes through phases just like the moon.
Venus takes about 225 days to orbit the sun relative to the background stars. This is called the sidereal period of Venus.
However, Venus takes about 584 days to orbit the sun relative to Earth. This is called the synodic period of Venus. Venus takes this extra time (about 359 days) because Earth is also moving in its orbit.
That is why Venus takes about 584 days to travel from one inferior conjunction (the new phase) to the next inferior conjunction (the next new phase). This interval is called the phase cycle of Venus.
In a phase cycle, Venus goes through the following eight phases in order: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.
Waning gibbous phase of Venus in 2026
When it occurs: Venus will be in its waning gibbous phase from January 7 to August 11, 2026.
Illuminated area: The illuminated area of Venus decreases from 100% to 50%.
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its waning gibbous phase when it approaches Earth after the superior conjunction.
Visibility: Venus begins to appear in the evening twilight a few weeks after its superior conjunction and becomes more prominent in the western evening sky over time.
Rise and set time: Venus rises after sunrise and sets after sunset.
Appearance: The disk size of Venus increases during its waning gibbous phase, from about 10 arcseconds to about 24 arcseconds.
Third quarter phase of Venus in 2026
When it occurs: Venus will be in its third quarter phase on August 12, 2026.
Illuminated area: 50%
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its third quarter phase around its greatest eastern elongation from the sun when its phase angle—the angle between the sun, Venus and Earth—is 90°.
Visibility: Venus is best visible in the western evening sky around its greatest eastern elongation from the sun.
Rise and set time: Venus rises after sunrise and sets after sunset.
Appearance: Through a telescope, Venus appears half-illuminated (like a half-moon) and about 24 arcseconds in diameter.
Waning crescent phase of Venus in 2026
When it occurs: Venus will be in its waning crescent phase from August 13 to October 23, 2026.
Illuminated area: The illuminated area of Venus decreases from 50% to 0%.
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its waning crescent phase when it approaches between the sun and Earth before the inferior conjunction.
Visibility: Venus is visible in the western evening sky. It begins to fade into the evening twilight a few weeks before its inferior conjunction.
Rise and set time: Venus rises after sunrise and sets after sunset.
Appearance: The disk size of Venus increases during its waning crescent phase, from about 24 arcseconds to about 60 arcseconds.
New phase of Venus in 2026
When it occurs: Venus will be in its new phase on October 24, 2026.
Illuminated area: 0%
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its new phase when it passes between the sun and Earth, an astronomical event known as the inferior conjunction of Venus.
Visibility: Venus is not visible in its new phase, as it appears very close to the sun in our sky.
Rise and set time: Venus rises and sets almost with the sun in its new phase.
Appearance: Venus reaches its closest point to Earth, appearing largest in size during its new phase. Through a telescope, it appears completely dark (like a new moon) and about 60 arcseconds in diameter. Only experienced astronomers can capture the new phase of Venus using the proper sunblocking filters.
Waxing crescent phase of Venus in 2026
When it occurs: Venus will be in its waxing crescent phase from October 25, 2026, to January 2, 2027.
Illuminated area: The illuminated area of Venus increases from 0% to 50%.
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its waxing crescent phase when it moves away from Earth after the inferior conjunction.
Visibility: Venus begins to appear in the morning twilight a few weeks after its inferior conjunction and becomes more prominent in the eastern morning sky over time.
Rise and set time: Venus rises before sunrise and sets before sunset.
Appearance: The disk size of Venus decreases during its waxing crescent phase, from about 60 arcseconds to about 24 arcseconds.
First quarter phase of Venus in 2027
When it occurs: Venus will be in its first quarter phase on January 3, 2027.
Illuminated area: 50%
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its first quarter phase around its greatest western elongation from the sun when its phase angle—the angle between the sun, Venus and Earth—is 90°.
Visibility: Venus is best visible in the eastern morning sky around its greatest western elongation from the sun.
Rise and set time: Venus rises before sunrise and sets before sunset.
Appearance: Through a telescope, Venus appears half-illuminated (like a half-moon) and about 24 arcseconds in diameter.
Waxing gibbous phase of Venus in 2027
When it occurs: Venus will be in its waxing gibbous phase from January 4 to August 11, 2027.
Illuminated area: The illuminated area of Venus increases from 50% to 100%.
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its waxing gibbous phase when it moves to the far side of the sun from Earth before the superior conjunction.
Visibility: Venus is visible in the eastern morning sky. It begins to fade into the morning twilight a few weeks before its superior conjunction.
Rise and set time: Venus rises before sunrise and sets before sunset.
Appearance: The disk size of Venus decreases during its waxing gibbous phase, from about 24 arcseconds to about 10 arcseconds.
Full phase of Venus in 2027
When it occurs: Venus will be in its full phase on August 12, 2027.
Illuminated area: 100%
Position in orbit: Venus exhibits its full phase when it passes almost directly behind the sun from Earth’s perspective, an astronomical event known as the superior conjunction of Venus.
Visibility: Venus is not visible in its full phase, as it appears very close to the sun in our sky.
Rise and set time: Venus rises and sets almost with the sun in its full phase.
Appearance: Venus reaches its farthest point from Earth, appearing smallest in size during its full phase. Through a telescope, it appears fully illuminated (like a full moon) and about 10 arcseconds in diameter.
Why does Venus have phases?
Venus exhibits a full range of phases because its orbit is smaller than Earth’s orbit.
When Venus passes between the sun and Earth in its orbit, the side of Venus facing Earth receives no sunlight and exhibits the new phase.
When Venus passes behind the sun from Earth’s perspective, the side of Venus facing Earth is fully illuminated and exhibits the full phase.
Difference between the moon’s phases and Venus’s phases
The moon exhibits nearly the same disk size throughout its phases as it orbits Earth. However, Venus does not exhibit the same disk size throughout its phases as it orbits the sun.
Can you see the phases of Venus with the naked eye?
It is very difficult to see the phases of Venus without a pair of binoculars or a telescope.
However, if you have clear eyesight, you can get a hint of Venus’s phase with the naked eye during its extreme crescent phase.
Venus is closest to Earth—and therefore appears nearly largest in size—during its extreme crescent phase. During this phase, the angular diameter (disk size) of Venus is, on average, about 60 arcseconds, which is comparable to the angular resolution of the human eye. Therefore, in principle, it is possible to see the extreme crescent phase of Venus with the naked eye.
References
Geocentric Ephemeris for Venus : 2026
Geocentric Ephemeris for Venus : 2027
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