Venus to reach its peak brightness over Omani skies on Sunday
Published: 07:02 PM,Feb 15,2025 | EDITED : 11:02 PM,Feb 15,2025
Venus will reach its peak brightness during this cycle.
MUSCAT: Venus, the brightest planet we see from Earth, will reach its maximum brightness in the evening on the western horizon after sunset on Sunday.
According to the Oman Astronomical Society: 'Venus is the third brightest celestial body after sun and moon, with an apparent brightness of -4.52 magnitude, making it about 30 times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky after the sun.'
Venus will reach its peak brightness during this cycle and it will be in the crescent phase, which is the phase during which it reflects a large amount of sunlight due to the angle at which the sun forms to the Earth and Venus. During this period, the planet will be at its closest point to the Earth, which makes it brighter and clearer, especially when observed with a telescope that will reveal the features of its surface covered with dense clouds.
Venus will remain visible in the evening sky until mid-March as it will gradually disappear on March 16, to reappear on the eastern horizon as a 'morning star' at the end of the same month.
This period is a golden opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts to observe one of the most beautiful celestial scenes, whether with the naked eye or using telescopes that will reveal the details of the crescent phase that the planet is passing through.
Venus is classified as one of the inner planets because it revolves within the Earth's orbit around the sun and it is the second closest planet to it after Mercury.
Due to its proximity to the sun, it cannot be seen all night like the rest of the outer planets, but rather appears either before sunrise on the eastern horizon or after sunset on the western horizon.
According to the Oman Astronomical Society: 'Venus is the third brightest celestial body after sun and moon, with an apparent brightness of -4.52 magnitude, making it about 30 times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky after the sun.'
Venus will reach its peak brightness during this cycle and it will be in the crescent phase, which is the phase during which it reflects a large amount of sunlight due to the angle at which the sun forms to the Earth and Venus. During this period, the planet will be at its closest point to the Earth, which makes it brighter and clearer, especially when observed with a telescope that will reveal the features of its surface covered with dense clouds.
Venus will remain visible in the evening sky until mid-March as it will gradually disappear on March 16, to reappear on the eastern horizon as a 'morning star' at the end of the same month.
This period is a golden opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts to observe one of the most beautiful celestial scenes, whether with the naked eye or using telescopes that will reveal the details of the crescent phase that the planet is passing through.
Venus is classified as one of the inner planets because it revolves within the Earth's orbit around the sun and it is the second closest planet to it after Mercury.
Due to its proximity to the sun, it cannot be seen all night like the rest of the outer planets, but rather appears either before sunrise on the eastern horizon or after sunset on the western horizon.