Next to the sun and the moon, Venus is the third brightest object in the night sky. For this reason, it’s a beloved planet to seek out among both seasoned and beginning astronomy enthusiasts. If the prospect of catching Venus at its brightest appeals to you then you’ll want to be sure to set yourself a reminder in a few day’s time. The fiery planet Venus will appear extra luminous as the end of the month, and it won’t appear any brighter for the rest of the year. Best of all, you won’t need any special equipment to spot this glowing orb. Simply tilt your head back and look up at the night sky!
The planet Venus is always one of the brightest spots in the night sky but it's especially visible throughout the month of April. In fact, the planet is expected to reach peak illumination soon and it's a sight that you don't want to miss.
At the beginning of the month, Venus experienced a rare alignment with the Pleiades star cluster. It's an event that happens only every eight years and it started off a strong month of visibility for the planet. At least in the Northern Hemisphere, Venus has been visible well after nightfall all month long.
The last few weeks have been an excellent time to do some Venus viewing but its peak is definitely something you'll want to be sure to look out for. Venus is expected to reach its greatest illuminated extent on the evening of April 28th, so keep an eye out!
It's great if you can catch Venus at its peak, as this is when the planet will be at its brightest for the rest of 2020. However, the planet should be highly visible all week long. Simply look at the western sky after the sun has set. The planet will remain visible for several hours, only setting after midnight.
The great thing about viewing Venus is the fact that it's SO easy. For the most part, you can see it with your naked eye. However, having a telescope or strong pair of binoculars handy will ensure you notice extra details like the planet's crescent shape.
Idaho's dark skies will also help create the perfect conditions for viewing the planet and clusters of stars. After all, the Gem State is home to the country's very first dark sky reserve.
Now is the time to view Venus at its biggest and brightest, so consider getting out there tonight and taking a look. Sometimes looking up at the stars is just what you need to add a little brightness to the end of your day.
