Venus

Venus, second planet from the sun, is the brightest planet in our solar system.

Related Topics: Mercury, Earth, Mars 

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An illustration of the night sky on Jan. 24 showing Venus and Saturn below the crescent moon.

See Venus and Saturn together beneath the crescent moon tonight (Jan. 24)

By Brett Tingley published

Venus and Saturn will appear close together in the night sky on Tuesday (Jan. 24) beneath a crescent moon.

Venus as seen by Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft.

NASA scientist explains why Venus is Earth's 'evil twin' (video)

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Scientists and engineers from NASA and the European Space Agency want to know a whole lot more about why Venus resembles Earth in so many ways, and yet is so strikingly different.

Jan22-2023 at 550 pm - Venus Kisses Saturn

Don't miss Saturn and Venus together in the night sky tonight

By Robert Lea published

On Sunday (Jan. 22), the planets Saturn and Venus will make a close approach to each other in the night sky, separated by no more than the width of a finger.

Venus - Jan2023

Venus will steal the show in the night sky throughout 2023

By Joe Rao published

The planet Venus is the undisputed star of the night skies throughout 2023

An illustration of the evening sky on Jan. 22 depicting the conjunction of Venus and Saturn.

Watch Venus and Saturn shine extra close together in a planet conjunction today in this free webcast (Jan. 22)

By Robert Lea last updated

The conjunction of Venus and Saturn will be livestreamed so astronomy fans can watch it from the comfort of their homes without having to brave the bitter cold of a January evening.

An illustration of the night sky on Jan. 22 showing the close approach of Venus and Saturn.

What time is the conjunction of Venus and Saturn on Sunday (Jan. 22)?

By Brett Tingley published

On Sunday (Jan. 22) at 5:13 p.m. EST (2213 GMT), Venus and Saturn will make a close approach in the night sky, known as an appulse, and will also be in conjunction.

A NASA/JPL image showing Venus and Saturn moving together in the night sky.

Watch Venus and Saturn begin joining up in the night sky this week

By Stefanie Waldek published

The planets will begin closing in on one another ahead of a conjunction on Sunday (Jan. 22), during which they will appear just one-third of a degree apart.

Jan22-2023 at 550 pm - Venus Kisses Saturn

See Venus and Saturn snuggle in the sky Sunday (Jan. 22)

By Joe Rao published

Venus and Saturn will be in conjunction on Sunday (Jan. 22), appearing close enough together in the sky to both be seen through a telescope. The close pairing will also be visible to the naked-eye.

virtual telescope project images of planets and stars in december 2022

See the rare 'planet parade' of 5 naked-eye planets in these photos by an astronomer

By Elizabeth Howell published

Clear skies beckoned Wednesday (Dec. 28) in Rome, allowing the Virtual Telescope Project's Gianluca Masi to get busy with a year-end broadcast.

This NASA sky map shows the locations of the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars after sunset on Dec. 25, 2022.

See the moon and 4 planets align as Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and Venus offer a rare night sky treat this week!

By Tariq Malik published

The Christmas moon lines up with four bright planets in a celestial holiday treat this week.

An artist's depiction of the Mariner 2 spacecraft.

60 years ago today, a spacecraft zipped past planet Venus for the 1st time ever

By Meghan Bartels published

It was the first planetary flyby ever.

(Main) An illustration of galactic cosmic rays. (Right top) An illustration of the Mars Express and (right bottom) Venus Express spacecraft.

Solar cycle peak reduces cosmic rays around Mars, Venus and Earth

By Robert Lea published

Measurements taken at Earth's neighbors, Mars and Venus, show the battle between high-energy cosmic rays from beyond the solar system and the influence of the sun in the inner solar system.

The day side of Venus covered in clouds as seen by Akatsuki

Search for possible sign of life in Venus' clouds comes up empty

By Andrew Jones published

The aircraft-borne SOFIA telescope could not find signs of a compound possibly linked to biological activity during observations of Venus' atmosphere.

a mountain and surrounding rock in yellow with darker rock around it

Vast volcanic eruptions may have turned Venus from paradise into hell

By Keith Cooper published

Though hot and suffocating today, Venus may have once been a temperate world before massive volcanism changed it forever.

Artist's illustration showing NASA's Psyche probe approaching its asteroid namesake.

Problems with NASA asteroid mission Psyche delay Venus probe's launch to 2031

By Elizabeth Howell published

A NASA Venus mission will have to wait at least three more years to launch due to issues with the agency's Psyche asteroid probe.

A group of people look up at the night sky through telescopes.

The brightest planets in January's night sky: How to see them (and when)

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference Our viewing guide tells you which planets are visible in January's night sky and how you can see them.

grey rock against black background

Asteroids threatening Earth could be spotted by network of spacecraft near Venus' orbit, Chinese scientists say

By Andrew Jones published

We could detect potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids by using six surveyor spacecraft deployed in Venus-like orbits, Chinese researchers propose.

small round probe against yellow sky and background

Venus-bound NASA instrument preparing to brave the harsh atmosphere

By Robert Lea published

NASA scientists are preparing to paint the most detailed picture to date of the atmosphere of Venus when the aptly named DAVINCI mission drops a probe to the planet's surface.

people adjusting large silver balloon against desert landscape

Venus balloon prototype notches test flights over Nevada desert (video)

By Keith Cooper published

A unique, helium-filled, sulfuric-acid resistant balloon called an aerobot successfully completed two test flights over the Nevada desert.

Artist's illustration of Venus

Venus: The scorching second planet from the sun

By Charles Q. Choi, Chelsea Gohd last updated

Reference Planet Venus will have a flurry of spacecraft visit it in the next few years as scientists seek to learn more about the volcanic, lava-filled planet.