As January progresses, Venus and Saturn engage in a stunning celestial display in the western sky. Venus, known as the “evening star,” shines brightly while moving closer to Saturn each evening. Although Saturn is larger, it appears dimmer due to its greater distance. Observers can enjoy their proximity, especially around January 18, when they will be just a fingerbreadth apart. Venus will continue to dominate the evening sky before transitioning to the morning sky by March.
The Celestial Dance of Venus and Saturn
As January unfolds, two dazzling celestial bodies light up the western horizon, embarking on a captivating cosmic race. The swift and luminous Venus gracefully glides past the majestic Saturn, drawing nearer with each passing evening.
Why Venus is the Evening Star
If you’ve gazed towards the west during recent evenings, you’ve likely spotted Venus, the brilliant beacon of the night sky. Often referred to as the “evening star,” it shines with an unmistakable brilliance, even amidst hazy conditions or city lights.
Venus earns its title as the evening star because it is typically the first natural light to grace our evening skies, often appearing before other stars or planets. On clear nights, it can be seen emerging from the twilight just a mere fifteen minutes post-sunset.
Interestingly, Venus is not a star; it is a rocky planet similar to Earth. Unlike stars, which generate their own light through nuclear fusion, Venus merely reflects sunlight. Positioned approximately six light minutes away from us, it orbits the sun alongside Earth, showcasing a significant distinction between planets and stars.
In terms of distance, the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, lies 4.2 light-years away, its light taking years to reach us. Meanwhile, Venus, our neighboring planet, is much closer and radiates its brightness by reflecting sunlight. The vast difference in scale and distance is what makes Venus appear so luminous in our skies.
As we marvel at the stars, it’s worth noting that planets were historically called wandering stars, as they too move across the sky, albeit along unique paths dictated by gravitational forces. This motion follows the laws established by the renowned mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler in the 17th century. According to one of Kepler’s laws, the proximity of a planet to the sun influences its speed; thus, Venus outpaces Saturn in their celestial journey.
Throughout January, Venus can be observed just below Saturn, gradually moving closer each evening. From January 14 to 22, these two planets will never be more than two fingerbreadths apart, with their closest encounter occurring on January 18, just one fingerbreadth away. This presents a delightful opportunity to compare the two distinct planets.
While Venus dazzles as a bright and dominant figure in the evening sky, Saturn, a gas giant, is much larger in size but farther away, making it appear dimmer from our vantage point. Venus, being roughly 100 million kilometers from Earth, is about fifteen times closer than Saturn, which is situated approximately 1.5 billion kilometers away.
The combined factors of proximity to the sun and its dense cloud cover, which reflects about 75% of incoming sunlight, contribute to Venus’s intense brightness. In contrast, Saturn reflects less than half of the light it receives, resulting in a less luminous appearance.
As the month progresses, Venus gradually sets later in the evening, disappearing into the haze around 8:15 PM at the beginning of January and around 9:00 PM by the month’s end (times based on Munich). February will continue to showcase Venus as a striking evening star, although it will be lower in the sky and set earlier. By March, observers will witness Venus transition from an evening star to a morning star, marking yet another phase in its celestial journey.