Sun-Venus-Mars Conjunction

Figure 1 shows the forthcoming conjunction of Sun, Venus and Mars around January 6th of 2026 in the 17th degree of Capricorn. The exact conjunction between Venus and Mars occurs a couple of days later. It's not in particularly sensitive area of my chart.

Figure 1

Here is what Gemini had to say about the synodic period of Venus and Mars.

The synodic period of Mars and Venus relative to each other—specifically the interval between their conjunctions as viewed from Earth—is approximately 2.13 years (about 780 days) on average.

However, this interval is highly irregular compared to the standard synodic periods of planets relative to the Sun. While the mathematical average is about 2.13 years, the actual gap between conjunctions can swing between roughly 1.9 years and 2.6 years due to the planets' complex relative motions.

Here is a breakdown of why this happens and how the cycle works:

1. The "Geocentric" Mechanism

To understand the timing, it helps to view the motions from Earth's perspective:

• Mars moves relatively slowly across the sky. The Sun (and Earth) "laps" Mars every 780 days (Mars's synodic period).

• Venus is an "inferior" planet, meaning it is tethered to the Sun from our perspective. It never strays more than 47° from the Sun.

• The Result: Since Venus always stays close to the Sun, it effectively "tags along" with the Sun as the Sun laps Mars. Therefore, Venus also passes Mars on average every 780 days.

2. Why the Interval Varies

Unlike the Sun, which moves at a relatively steady pace along the ecliptic, Venus oscillates back and forth around the Sun (appearing as the Morning Star or Evening Star).

• Short Interval (~1.9 years): If Venus is on the "leading" side of the Sun during one pass and on the "trailing" side during the next, it catches up to Mars sooner.

• Long Interval (~2.6 years): If Venus is "trailing" the Sun and then switches to "leading" for the next encounter, the gap between conjunctions widens significantly.

• Triple Conjunctions: Occasionally, if Mars is moving very slowly (near retrograde) and Venus swings past it, reverses, and passes it again, you can get three conjunctions in a short span of a few months.

Summary of Recent & Future Conjunctions

To illustrate the irregularity, here are recent and upcoming dates:

• July 13, 2021: Conjunction (Separation ~0.5°)

• February 22, 2024: Conjunction (Interval: ~2.6 years)

• January 8, 2026: Next Conjunction (Interval: ~1.9 years)

Note on Visibility: The conjunction on January 8, 2026, will be very difficult to see because both planets will be very close to the Sun in the sky (solar conjunction).  

Comparison: Heliocentric Period

If you were floating in space looking at the planets orbiting the Sun (heliocentric view), Mars and Venus align much more frequently—every 334 days. We don't see this from Earth because our own orbital motion constantly shifts our viewing angle.