Good Morning, Venus!

Written by Gord Falconer Monday, 16 March 2009 00:00

Since last autumn, our western sky displayed a dazzling “evening star”, which was actually the planet Venus – far brighter than any real star.  Lately, it has been invisible because on March 27, Venus passed between the Earth and the Sun.  Soon, Venus will be visible again as the “morning star”.  This naturally occurs as it emerges from the Sun’s glare and rises before the Sun each morning.  For you early risers, have a look towards the East as the dawn sky brightens.   See how soon you can spot Venus.  After that, watch for it every chance you get.  Each day it will be higher and higher in the pre-dawn sky.  By June, it will be rising in a dark sky, and will be easy to see by the time the sky brightens too much.