On most nights when you see a bright “star” right next to the Moon, it’s usually a planet like Venus or Jupiter rather than an actual star.

Quick Scoop

  • In late January 2026, the bright object closest to the Moon on many evenings is Jupiter, which is very bright and easy to see with the naked eye.
  • Around January 27, Uranus is also near the Moon in the constellation Taurus, but it is faint and normally requires binoculars or a small telescope.
  • Venus is often the answer to “what’s that bright star next to the Moon?”, but for this specific week (end of January 2026), Jupiter is the main bright candidate in the evening sky.
  • Planets look like steady points of light (they do not twinkle as much), and Jupiter and Venus in particular outshine almost all normal stars.

Think of the Moon as a wandering spotlight that regularly passes by different bright planets. This week, it’s “visiting” Jupiter in the sky.

How to tell which planet you’re seeing

  1. Check brightness
    • If it is extremely bright and rivals the Moon (but without glare), it is often Venus or Jupiter.
  1. Check color
    • Jupiter: slightly orange or cream.
 * Venus: pale yellow-white.

 * Mars: reddish or orange-red.
  1. Check time and position
    • Late January 2026: the Moon–Jupiter pairing is high in the evening sky in Gemini; Uranus is nearby but faint in Taurus.

Simple example

If you step out on the evenings around January 31, 2026 and see a bright point very close to a nearly full Moon, that bright “star” is Jupiter.

SEO notes (for your post)

  • Focus phrase: “what planet can you see next to the moon” can appear in your title, first paragraph, and one subheading.
  • A natural meta description might be: “Wondering what planet is next to the Moon tonight? In late January 2026, it’s most likely bright Jupiter shining close by, with faint Uranus also in the area.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.