The “Evening Star” Takes a Bow

If it’s clear, go outside just after sunset and take a look at the bright object to the west, and bid it a fond farewell. The Venus is leaving the evening sky soon.

In it’s travels around the sun, Venus spends part of the year in our evening sky, and part of the year in the morning sky. This year Venus has been a staple of the evening twilight since early spring, but in early August the planet slips into the glare of sunset and disappears from our sight, leaving Jupiter as the lone bright planet in the sky.

But take heart. Because of the angle of the ecliptic (the imaginary line the sun and planets travel in the sky) Venus will be quickly rising in the morning sky late in August and be a fixture for the rest of 2007 and much of Spring of 2008.

Venus and the Ecliptic at sunset, July 28

Venus and the Ecliptic at sunrise, August 28

So if you want to get your last glimpse of Undómiel, the Evenstar, run out and take a peek, before you have to get up really early to see Venus in a month.