Think of a big right triangle in space, with Venus or Mercury at the right angle vertex, and the Sun and Earth at the other two corners. As the name suggests, this is simply the point at which either planet appears to be at its maximum angular distance from the Sun. Only the two planets interior to Earth’s orbit – Mercury and Venus – can reach a point known as greatest elongation from the Sun. Venus reaches greatest elongation tomorrow, a excellent time to admire this dazzling but shrouded world of mystery. The third brightest natural object in the sky, Venus now rules the dusk, a fine sight for wintertime evening commuters. “What’s that bright light in the sky?” The planet Venus never fails to impress, and indeed makes even seasoned observers look twice at its unexpected brilliance. Venus, Mars, and the waxing crescent Moon at dusk from the evening of January 3rd, 2017.
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