Watch for Venus before dawn

Chris Davis in Loretto, Tennessee captured Venus in the east before dawn on April 2, 2017.

Venus is the brightest planet – brighter than any other sky objects except for the sun and moon. So it’s no surprise that people are already finding Venus in the east before dawn now, even though it has only recently shifted over into our predawn sky. This planet is very, very bright, but it’s low in the sky. You’ll need an unobstructed eastern horizon shortly before the sun comes up.

Before the month ends, Venus will have another time of greatest brilliancy. It’s always an eerie sight at such times! Start watching it now.

Read more in EarthSky’s April planet guide

If you could see Venus through a telescope now, you’d find it in a waxing crescent phase. Because it was so recently between us and the sun, its lighted half – or day side – is still facing mostly away from us. Photo taken Saturday morning, April 1, 2017 by Nick Southall on Mon Louis Island, Alabama.

Bottom line: Photos of Venus in early April, 2017, in the east before dawn.

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2oU7u8x

Chris Davis in Loretto, Tennessee captured Venus in the east before dawn on April 2, 2017.

Venus is the brightest planet – brighter than any other sky objects except for the sun and moon. So it’s no surprise that people are already finding Venus in the east before dawn now, even though it has only recently shifted over into our predawn sky. This planet is very, very bright, but it’s low in the sky. You’ll need an unobstructed eastern horizon shortly before the sun comes up.

Before the month ends, Venus will have another time of greatest brilliancy. It’s always an eerie sight at such times! Start watching it now.

Read more in EarthSky’s April planet guide

If you could see Venus through a telescope now, you’d find it in a waxing crescent phase. Because it was so recently between us and the sun, its lighted half – or day side – is still facing mostly away from us. Photo taken Saturday morning, April 1, 2017 by Nick Southall on Mon Louis Island, Alabama.

Bottom line: Photos of Venus in early April, 2017, in the east before dawn.

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2oU7u8x