Skywatchers in Arar, Saudi Arabia, can observe the planet Venus appearing close to the bright star Spica in a celestial conjunction, according to a report by عاجل.
The alignment was reported on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with عاجل noting the pairing was visible in the local sky. The event places the solar system’s second planet near Spica, one of the brightest stars in the constellation Virgo.
Conjunctions of this type occur when two celestial bodies share the same right ascension or appear near each other from Earth’s perspective, though they remain vastly distant in space. Venus, an inner planet, orbits closer to the Sun, while Spica lies hundreds of light-years away. For casual observers, the pairing typically appears as two bright points of light close together in the western evening sky after sunset.
The report from عاجل did not specify the exact time of best visibility or the duration of the event. Observers in Arar, a city in northern Saudi Arabia, were the focus of the notice, but the conjunction may be visible across similar latitudes with clear skies.
Amateur astronomers and casual stargazers in the region may want to look westward after dusk to catch the pairing before the objects set. Future conjunctions involving Venus and Spica recur on a roughly yearly cycle, though viewing conditions vary by season and location.
For those who missed the event, clear weather and an unobstructed horizon are the main requirements to spot the next similar alignment.
