When Jupiter (Guru) comes very close to the Sun, it disappears from the sky, and in astrology its auspicious influence/brightness is believed to temporarily weaken — this is called Ast, Moudhya, or Moudhyami (combustion). Guru Ast is considered to occur when the Sun-Jupiter angular separation comes within roughly 11°. In 2026, this period broadly falls between mid-July and mid-August — the exact start/end date varies by 2-3 days depending on the source's method (details below). This year, Jupiter is combust while in Cancer, its own sign of exaltation. During this period, auspicious ceremonies such as marriage, house-warming, and thread ceremonies are traditionally avoided.