Moon Occults Venus on June 17 Across United States

On June 17, 2026, the Moon will pass in front of Venus in a partial occultation event visible across the United States. The occultation occurs as the Moon moves eastward along the ecliptic, the plane along which planets and the Moon travel across the sky. The timing of the event varies significantly by geographic location due to the observer's position on Earth.

Venus will disappear behind the Moon's dark leading edge at 3:49 P.M. EDT for observers on the East Coast. In Austin, Texas, the event occurs at 2:24 P.M. CDT, while Denver witnesses the occultation beginning at 12:55 P.M. MDT. The International Occultation Timing Association provides detailed disappearance and reappearance times for numerous locations across the country at their dedicated webpage.

Observers planning to view this daytime occultation must exercise extreme caution. Using optical instruments such as binoculars or telescopes to view the event during daylight hours poses a significant risk of permanent eye damage if the instruments are pointed at the Sun, even briefly. Experienced observers are particularly advised to use extreme care when employing telescopes. Evening observations are safer, as the Moon will also be crossing through the Beehive star cluster (M44) in Cancer, with additional stellar occultations visible for those in the eastern half of the United States.