What Is The Bright Light in the Evening Western Sky?

Venus is also commonly called the 'evening star'.

Venus, the brightest among the planets, is most visible in the western evening sky. It can never be seen much longer than three hours after sunset or three hours before sunrise. The best period to look for Venus is in July.

Identification

Planet Venus has an elliptical orbit that is almost circular.

Venus is a yellowish white planet that is the third brightest object in the sky, next to the sun and the moon. The planet can be seen with the naked eye and is best visible three hours before sunrise and sunset. It is the second-closest planetd to the sun, located between Earth and Mercury.

History

In 1608, Galileo made a telescope about 3X the magnification of the first practical telescope invented.

In 1610 and 1611, Galileo discovered that Venus went through phases similar to the Earth's moon, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Through the use of his telescope, Galileo discovered that Venus orbited the sun.

Size

Venus's extremely hot atmosphere can be deadly, making it a difficult area for astronauts to explore.

According to aerospaceguide.net, Venus's size is 12,100 km, about 1040 km smaller in diameter than Earth. Its atmosphere is rocky and dusty, with a waterless expanse of mountains, canyons, plains and a 200-mile river of hardened lava.

Mythology

In astrology, planet Venus rules love, hunan values and enjoyment.

Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility. It is the only planet named after a Goddess and not a God.

Fun Fact

Aerospaceguide.net also notes that a Venusian day is 243 Earth days. And Venus rotates in retrograde, so that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.

References

• The Planet Venus
• Solar System Exploration