In early 2025, Venus will shine brilliantly in the southwestern sky following sunset, earning it the label “evening star.”
This event, which occurs when Venus approaches Earth, transpires once every 19 months. Nonetheless, as Venus intensifies in brightness, it will shrink into a thin crescent as it undergoes its remarkable moon-phase-like transformation.
Here’s all the information you need regarding Venus in 2025.
Venus as the “evening star” and “morning star”
When viewed from Earth, Venus does not traverse the night sky like more slowly moving planets tend to do. Rather, it can only be spotted around sunrise and sunset, shifting from “morning star” to “evening star” and vice versa every 584 days, or roughly 19 months. Venus completes an orbit around the sun every 225 days, in contrast to Earth’s 365-day orbit. These orbital durations combine to form an eight-year cycle in which Venus appears to circle the sun 13 times, from the perspective of Earth. During this period, Venus draws a pentagram pattern in Earth’s sky every eight years.
Since Venus is situated closer to the sun than Earth and has a faster orbit, from the viewpoint of Earth, Venus is consistently observed near the sun, either shortly after sunset, referred to as the “evening star,” or just before sunrise, termed the “morning star.”
Throughout the latter half of 2024, Venus will ascend in the post-sunset night sky as the “evening star,” but by 2025, its elevation above the western horizon will peak and then swiftly decline.
Venus at dichotomy
On January 10, 2025, Venus will attain its maximum elongation eastward in the post-sunset sky, positioning it high above the western horizon after dark. From Earth’s perspective, this marks the furthest distance it appears from the sun in its current visibility. A few days later, it will reach dichotomy, signifying when a planet’s disk is half illuminated by the sun from Earth.
In the weeks that follow, Venus will come closer to Earth and seem to diminish to a crescent. By February 19, only 23% of it will be illuminated when it reaches its zenith in the post-sunset sky. By then, it will radiate at a brilliant magnitude of -4.9. (Smaller magnitudes indicate brighter light.)
If you possess a small telescope, aim it at Venus during January and February 2025 to witness the planet’s phase transformation. With a telescope, you will observe Venus appearing to expand as it approaches Earth. In fact, during the planet’s dichotomy, the size of Venus’ disk will grow by approximately 60% between January 12 and February 16.
Looking to have a close-up view of the planets? Explore our manuals for the best telescopes and best binoculars.
Additionally, we offer advice on how to capture images of the planets, along with guides for the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
Venus in 2025: Important dates
Following its dichotomy and dazzling performance as a bright “evening star” in the southwest after dark during early 2025, Venus will transition into the sun’s glare in March and reappear in the following month as the “morning star.” Here are significant dates concerning Venus in 2025:
- Jan. 3, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus after sunset (1.4 degrees apart)
- Jan. 10, 2025: Venus reaches its maximum elongation east after sunset (47.2 degrees angular separation from the sun)
- Jan. 12, 2025: Venus at dichotomy (half-moon configuration)
- Jan. 18, 2025: Venus-Saturn conjunction following sunset (2.2 degrees apart)
- Feb. 1, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus after sunset (2.3 degrees apart)
- Feb. 16, 2025: Venus at its peak brightness in the evening sky
- March 22, 2025: Venus at inferior conjunction (located between Earth and the sun)
- April 22, 2025: Venus at its peak brightness in the morning sky
- April 24, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus before sunrise (2.4 degrees apart)
- May 31, 2025: Venus at its maximum elongation west before sunrise (45.9 degrees angular distance from the sun)
- Aug. 12, 2025: Venus-Jupiter conjunction before sunrise (0.9 degrees apart)
- Sept. 19, 2025: Crescent moon and Venus before sunrise (0.8 degrees apart)