The above chart also reveals a pattern where almost identical greatest elongations repeat every 8 years. The greatest elongation east on June 4, 2023, is relatively small: 45.40°.īy contrast, Venus’s next greatest elongation east-on January 10, 2025-will be relatively large: 47.17°. We can see from the chart how greatest elongations of Venus vary by a couple of degrees. The events come in pairs: a greatest elongation east is quickly followed, 4½ months later, by a greatest elongation west there is then a 14½-month wait until the next greatest elongation east. The chart at the top of this page shows all the greatest elongations of Venus between 20. Planetary orbits are not perfect circles, plus they are tilted in slightly different ways. The movements of planets across the sky never repeat precisely. There are two other factors that affect the altitude of Venus above the horizon: the observer’s latitude, and the way the direction of Earth’s tilt changes over the course of the year.Īltitude & azimuth: the horizontal coordinate system Never the Same Twice In addition, greatest elongation is not when Venus is at its highest in the sky at sunset. Venus will be at its brightest on July 9, when its orbit around the Sun brings it closer to Earth.ĭistance, brightness, and size of planets Interestingly, greatest elongation does not equal maximum brightness. Venus has been easy to spot in the evening sky all year, but its greatest elongation provides a good excuse to head outside and look to the west. Reddish Mars lies just above and to the left of Venus, in the constellation of Cancer. This view from our Interactive Night Sky Map shows Venus at greatest elongation east on June 4, as seen from New York City. Each evening, it has been appearing farther and farther from the Sun, and it reaches greatest elongation east on June 4. Venus has been shining as the evening star since the end of 2022. In all cases, Venus’s greatest elongation is 46° or so. Similarly, the peak distance from the Sun that Venus reaches in the morning sky is called its greatest elongation west. However, Venus shines in the western sky after sunset.) (The word “east” refers to Venus being east of the Sun’s position as they travel from east to west across the sky. The maximum distance that Venus reaches from the Sun in the evening sky is referred to as its greatest elongation east. The distance between the Sun and a planet-as seen from Earth-is called its elongation. The entire cycle-which astronomers call its synodic period-takes 583.92 days, or about 19 months. Nine months later, it passes more slowly behind the Sun, and becomes the evening star once again.įind and track Venus with our Night Sky Map It then crosses swiftly in front of the Sun, and becomes the morning star. Venus shines as the evening star for around nine months. As a result, when we see the planet in the sky, it is never far from the Sun: we normally see it after sunset or before sunrise.Īt its best, Venus is easily the brightest and most dazzling planet, and is affectionately known as either the evening star or the morning star. Venus orbits the Sun more closely than Earth does. We can see how a pattern repeats every 8 years. The three smallest separations are highlighted in pink, the three largest in green. This chart shows the maximum separations (greatest elongations east and west) between Venus and the Sun over 24 years. Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).
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