The brightest planet in our western sky, Venus is ideally placed this weekend and in the nights ahead. The planet will be farthest from the sun, highest in the western sky at sunset tomorrow night. There is not a noticeable difference, but be aware, Venus is at its greatest elongation. If you could look at the planet right now it would look like a quarter moon. The sunlight is on just one side.

It gets even better on Sunday night, when a young waxing crescent moon saddles right up next to the planet. The two are a pair, only 7 degrees apart, depending on when you look.

We've all been watching Venus this summer as it commands a sentinel position over the western sky. We watched it this week on one of those celear nights, when we were driving from Oak Bluffs across the Lagoon Pond bridge into Vineyard Haven. The bright planet hung right over downtown Vineyard Haven. Enjoy the sight as in the weeks ahead, Venus will get closer to the western horizon after sunset and get harder to see. The planet becomes a morning planet in late October.