• Mark Lovewell

In Vineyard Skies: A Month with Venus

The brightest planet in our western sky early at night sure has received a lot of attention. You don’t need a science degree to appreciate the beauty of Venus. She is so bright. I’ve been stopped on the street by friends and strangers who want to know what that “star” is hovering in the west.

Venus is a planetary favorite, because it is so accessible and almost “in your face” bright. But change is near.

Venus is about to exit and it will happen in the next four weeks. Pay attention, for in the nights ahead, you’ll notice that the planet is getting lower and lower in the western sky. 

In the race around the Sun, Venus is about to overtake the Earth and speed ahead. Venus is getting closer too. Venus is 44 million miles from us. By the end of the month, Venus will only be 33 million miles away, closer to us than any planet gets.

In a telescope, the planet shines in the crescent phase. Mercury is the only other planet in our solar system that can visually do this. But Venus does it best. Being close, Venus is big.

So enjoy Venus now, while it is accessible and easy to see.

Looking ahead to summer, Venus will be only visible in the morning sky.
 

 

Sunrise and Sunset
Day Sunrise Sunset
Fri., Feb. 17 6:34 5:17
Sat., Feb. 18 6:33 5:18
Sun., Feb. 19 6:32 5:19
Mon., Feb. 20 6:30 5:20
Tues., Feb. 21 6:29 5:22
Wed., Feb. 22 6:27 5:23
Thurs., Feb. 23 6:26 5:24
Fri., Feb. 24 6:24 5:25
Temperatures and Precipitations
Day Max (Fº) Min (Fº) Inches
Feb. 10 42 12 *0.86
Feb. 11 35 20 0.04
Feb. 12 42 35 T
Feb. 13 40 29 0.73
Feb. 14 36 24 0.00
Feb. 15 41 23 0.00
Feb. 16 43 33 0.16

 

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 39º F

Comments

Comment policy »

YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS

Subscribe or become a Friend of the Vineyard Gazette and receive our free newsletters and free and discounted tickets to Gazette events along with our award-winning news and photography.