The bright “Evening Star,” Venus, in the western sky just after sunset, is about to disappear. Through binoculars or telescope it will appear as an ever-thinning crescent, and in less than two weeks, it will set with the sun and not be visible in the evening skies until the beginning of 2026. It will appearContinue reading “Bye Bye Evening Star!”
Tag Archives: Venus
Moon-scope
My telescope in morning twilight and the Moon as viewed through it. #moon #venus #telescope #twlight
Sky Delights and Christmas Lights
On a recent walk through the neighborhood after sunset, Venus and the crescent moon winked through gaps in the trees as we took in the local Christmas decorations. We were quite delighted by both. #venus #moon #christmaslights #christmas #evening
Sky Delight Tonight
Shortly after sunset, Venus commands attention in the western sky. Tonight (October 12, 2024) and for the next several nights another heavenly interloper may be visible as well. About 30 degrees to the right of Venus and slightly lower, comet Tsuchinshan (A/2023 A3) should be visible to the naked eye and through binoculars. It willContinue reading “Sky Delight Tonight”
Evening Star
It isn’t actually a star, but it is the star of the evening light show now and will be for the next several months. Venus is coming around from behind the Sun and is nearly at “full” phase similar to the full moon. For the next several months it will gleam in the evening skyContinue reading “Evening Star”
Sunset Siblings
Venus, the small dot near the right horizon, has taken its place as the evening star once again while the grinning crescent moon lies higher in the twilight sky. Together, they trace the path that the sun will appear to follow as it heads south towards fall and then on to winter. #venus #moon #sunContinue reading “Sunset Siblings”
Skinny Side of Morning
It was not surprising to see thin, waning crescent moon in the early morning, but Venus? Yes, even Venus shows phases as can be seen in the telescopic images above. It recently passed between the sun and earth, and was nearly invisible then. Now it is rising higher and higher in the sky and veryContinue reading “Skinny Side of Morning”
Morning Star
Venus, the bright point of light that was visible in the evening sky for so much of the year, has passed between earth and sun and now is arising in the twilight before dawn. It will dominate the morning sky for the remainder of the year. Though it was named after the goddess of loveContinue reading “Morning Star”
Just Passing Through
Yesterday morning the Moon passed by Jupiter on its monthly trek around earth. This scene will repeat itself over the next several months as we head into fall and on towards winter. Before long, Venus will rise in the morning sky as well and provide the opportunity to see the three brightest planetary objects inContinue reading “Just Passing Through”
Twilight’s Last Gleaming
On the day before the summer solstice, storm clouds parted briefly to reveal a glimpse of the thin crescent moon and Venus hovering over the western horizon. Though rain drenched that day as well as the night the followed, this brief respite certainly brightened the spirits. #moon #venus #twilight