Is the planet Venus visible at night?

Indeed it is, at least for about 6 months each year. It alternates between being the 'Evening Star' and the 'Morning Star'. In fact, if you go outside right now ( February 8, 1996) and look towards the west at sunset, you will see Venus during its trek up the sky to its 'maximum eastern elongation' between February 19 - 21 when it will be nearly 40 degrees above the horizon and visible for nearly 3 1/2 hours after sunset. It will be near the crescent moon on February 21, 1996 making a very pretty picture. Also on February 1, it was in conjunction with Saturn forming a pretty 'double star' only 1.3 degrees apart. By March, it will be returning to the morning sky as the Morning Star.


Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
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