Venus – Facts and Information about the Planet Venus

Is cloud-veiled Venus an abode for extraterrestrial life?

New wave of missions to reignite Venus exploration

By Leonard David published 13 April 22

Multiple research teams are developing missions designed to address Venus' potential as an abode for life.

This NASA sky map shows the location of Venus, Mars and Saturn in the night sky April 4, 2022.

See Venus, Saturn and Mars shine close before sunrise this week

By Elizabeth Howell last updated 4 April 22

Venus, Saturn and Mars will be visible and very close together this week in the predawn sky. Here's how to see it.

The predawn sky in April 2022 brings a dance of morning planets as Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn are all visible before sunrise.

April's sky brings dance of 4 morning planets: See Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn.

By Joe Rao published 2 April 22

As the planets rise in April we're given stunning views, if you know where to look.

This NASA diagram shows the location of Venus, Mars, Saturn and the crescent moon in the predawn sky on March 27 and March 28, 2022.

Venus, Mars and Saturn form a celestial triangle before dawn: How to see it

By Elizabeth Howell published 26 March 22

You can spot them Sunday and Monday, before sunrise.

Saturn, venus, mars and others in the night sky, a screenshot from Stellarium

See Saturn, Venus and Mars as moon shines near bright Antares

By Elizabeth Howell published 21 March 22

Enjoy the glittering worlds and star along with (early) breakfast.

The planet Venus will be at its greatest elongation on March 20, 2022 and will shine in the sky with Saturn and Mars.

Planet Venus at its 'greatest elongation' from the sun. Here's how to see it.

By Samantha Mathewson last updated 20 March 22

Venus has had a busy March! Now, the bright planet will be at its greatest distance from the sun tonight (March 20).

Venus and Mars will shine near each other in the predawn sky on March 12, 2022. Here's where to look.

See Venus and Mars pair up in the early morning sky Saturday

By Samantha Mathewson published 11 March 22

Venus will meet up with Mars in the very early morning sky on Saturday (March 12). Here’s how you can catch the planetary duo.

An image of Venus compiled from data gathered by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter and the Magellan mission, both of which ended in the early 1990s.

Scientists hail 'the decade of Venus' with 3 new missions on the way

By Meghan Bartels published 11 March 22

As planetary scientists resumed meeting in person, Venus experts had something special to celebrate.

The moon, Mercury and Saturn all meet up in the sky on Feb. 28, 2022. Also visible are Venus and Mars.

The moon meets up with Mercury and Saturn early Monday morning

By Elizabeth Howell published 27 February 22

You may be able to watch the moon cluster up with ringed Saturn and fleeting Mercury on Monday (Feb. 28), but it will be a considerable challenge.

The surface of Venus, as imaged by NASA's Magellan spacecraft.

Venus' extreme surface heat drives swirling winds in upper atmosphere, study finds

By Chelsea Gohd published 27 February 22

Scientists have shown how the swirling winds and searing heat on Venus work together in a revealing new study.

The moon, Venus and Mars as seen from New York City at 6:30 a.m. local time Sunday, Feb. 27.

See the moon align with Venus and Mars in Sunday's morning sky

By Elizabeth Howell last updated 26 February 22

The trio is easily visible with the naked eye.

Solar Orbiter spacecraft captures huge eruption on the sun (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published 18 February 22

It's the largest solar prominence eruption ever observed in a single image, along with the full disk of the sun.

As Parker Solar Probe flew by Venus on its fourth flyby, its WISPR instrument captured these images, strung into a video, showing the nightside surface of the planet.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has captured the first visible-light images of Venus

By Elizabeth Howell published 10 February 22

The visible-light imagery will tell scientists more about the geology and minerals of Venus.

Venus, now in crescent phase, returns to the morning sky in February.

The 'morning star' Venus returns to the dawn sky this month

By Joe Rao published 8 February 22

See Mars shine very close to the crescent moon in the pre-dawn sky Saturday. Here's where to look.

By Elizabeth Howell published 28 January 22

Mars and Venus will shine close to the crescent moon 45 minutes before sunrise on Jan. 29, 2022. Look to the southeast on the horizon to see them, weather permitting.

A 2014 image of Earth taken by the NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite.

What makes Earth unique?

By Clara Moskowitz, Meghan Bartels last updated 22 April 22

Several factors make Earth unique given what scientists know about the thousands of planets discovered to date.

This elevation model shows Idunn Mons, a volcano on Venus.

Are volcanoes erupting on Venus?

By Charles Q. Choi published 9 December 21

A volcanic peak standing more than a mile high on Venus may still be active, new findings show.

This NASA graphic shows the location of bright Venus and the moon, Jupiter and Saturn in the night sky on Dec. 6, 2021.

Watch the moon shine near Venus tonight on its way toward Saturn and Jupiter

By Chelsea Gohd published 6 December 21

Venus and the moon make a dazzling duo in the night sky tonight (Dec. 6), starting the moon's multi-day journey past a slew of planets.

This sky map shows the view of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn just after sunset on Dec. 5, 2021, as seen from New York City.

Venus shines at its highest in the night sky this week. How to see it.

By Elizabeth Howell published 5 December 21

The planet will shine brightly in the evening for a few nights before sinking toward the horizon.

An image of the night sky depicting three planets. The bright reddish star is Mars, Saturn is at the middle of the image, the the bright star on the right is Jupiter.

Thanksgiving night sky 2022: 3 planets provide a feast for skywatchers

By Joe Rao last updated 24 November 22

Here's what you can expect to see in the Thanksgiving night sky of 2022.