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Venus (February, 2018) ⬅︎
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is the easiest planet to find because it is brilliant, outshining all the other planets and stars in the night sky. Only the moon is brighter. Since Venus alternates between being visible before sunrise and after sunset, it has been known from antiquity as both the Morning Star and the Evening Star.

How long is Venus visible? As the second planet from the sun, Venus can reach a much greater maximum elongation (angular distance from the sun in our sky) than Mercury. So it can be visible for hours each night and for months at a time.

Through a telescope, Venus appears as a very bright, featureless, orb. However, look closely and you'll see phases much like Earth's moon. As an Evening Star, it often appears in First Quarter, and, as a Morning Star, in Last Quarter.
« PriorFebruary 1, 2018Next »
Level RatingBest Viewing
* Venus is close to the sun in our sky this month making viewing difficult.
* As its elongation increases, viewing chances improve.
* Around the last week, it may be possible to view it briefly after the sun sets (see above).
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SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
WARNING
Never use binoculars or telescopes to view near the sun.