The Evening/Morning Star: Venus

Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is often referred to as the evening star or morning star. It is visible in the sky during the early morning hours before sunrise or in the evening just after sunset. Venus is the brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon, making it easily recognizable.

Why is Venus called the evening/morning star?

Venus is called the evening star when it is visible in the western sky after sunset. On the other hand, it is referred to as the morning star when it appears in the eastern sky before sunrise. This phenomenon occurs because Venus is an inferior planet, meaning it orbits closer to the Sun than Earth. As a result, we observe Venus from our perspective on Earth as it alternates between being visible in the evening and morning.

The Brightest Object:

Venus is exceptionally bright due to multiple factors. It has a highly reflective atmosphere, composed mostly of carbon dioxide, which reflects a significant portion of sunlight that reaches it. Additionally, Venus is relatively close to Earth and has a dense cloud cover that reflects and scatters sunlight, further enhancing its brightness.

Apparent Movement and Phases:

Like the Moon, Venus goes through phases from our perspective on Earth. When Venus is closest to the Sun from our viewpoint, it appears as a thin crescent. As it moves further away from the Sun, its phase gradually changes to a half-moon shape, and eventually to a full disk. This apparent movement of Venus is caused by its orbit around the Sun.

Observing Venus:

To observe Venus as the evening or morning star, one can simply look towards the western sky after sunset or the eastern sky before sunrise, respectively. Venus is often visible even in areas with light pollution due to its brightness. However, it is important to take precautions when observing the Sun, especially during sunrise or sunset, as looking directly at the Sun can cause severe eye damage.