Venus, Evening Star

The Earth is only one of several planets that orbit the Sun. Venus is another one. Venus is roughly 94.99% the size of Earth — almost the same size! However, there is still 41,390,023 miles (66,224,000 km) between Earth and Venus at their closest, so Venus looks like a star to the unaided eye from Earth. A telescope, however, will reveal the planet as a sphere. In fact, a powerful-enough pair of binoculars, especially if steadied by use of a tripod, will allow a very small view of the disc of the planet.

Because of the geometry between the Earth, the Sun, and Venus, Venus can be perceived to go through "phases" as our own Moon does — appearing sometimes as a crescent, and sometimes a gibbous phase. Since the Earth's orbit is larger than than of Venus, we never are able to see a "full" phase.

Venus has a densely cloudy atmosphere, and it is always overcast there, keeping us from seeing the surface from afar. Those clouds are composed of sulfuric acid, which makes them remarkably reflective. So much light bounces off the clouds that Venus appears very bright. In fact, after the Sun sets, only the Moon can rival the brightness of Venus!

As Venus orbits the Sun, sometimes it appears on one side of it, and sometimes the other, from our vantage point. Because of that, Venus can appear in the evening sky shortly after sunset, and other times Venus appears in the morning sky shortly before sunrise. And, since Venus appears as a dazzling star to the unaided eye from Earth, those appearances are called the "Evening Star" and the "Morning Star," respectively.

Currently, Venus is showing herself as the "Evening Star." To see it, all one has to do is go outside shortly after sunset and look up in the sky to the west. The very bright "star" that you see is actually Venus!

Since I enjoy making digital artworks, I celebrated the appearance of Venus as the Evening Star in such a manner. The piece shows a star-like Venus in the center, with stylized waves of light surrounding it. Those with esoteric knowledge might understand the symbolism embedded in this artwork.