Mars passed opposition three weeks ago. Opposition is the time when a planet is at its brightest appearance due to its position opposite the un from our earthly outlook. Still bright, Mars will now fade steadily from view. Once the planet dims and sets out of sight, we will wait until 2025 for its reddish hue to return to our nights.

Venus, the closest planet to Earth, is set to enter the nightly stage as the “evening star.” As Mars darkens, Venus grows remarkably brighter. Venus’ incredible brilliance makes it the first celestial body, other than the moon, that becomes visible in the sky as the sun sets. Venus is also the last to fade from view at sunrise.

The morning and evening appearances of Venus are due to its placement in the solar system. Venus orbits closer to the sun than Earth does, so we view it differently than the planets that orbit beyond our path. Rather than Mars’ steady march across the sky, Venus appears tethered to either side of the sun as it passes in front of or behind our host star. The planet’s thick clouds mirror the sun’s rays and create a beacon of brightness.

Saturn and Jupiter remain in this week’s planetary lineup.

First Published: January 3, 2023, 11:00 a.m.