How to see Venus at night TOMORROW: Venus about to reach BRIGHTEST point of the year

Venus, the second planet from the Sun and the so-called evening star, will peak in magnitude on Friday, September 21.

The planet is typically the third brightest object in our skies due to its incredibly close proximity to Earth.

But since around March, Venus has been particularly eye-catching low on the horizon in the evening skies.

Shortly after sunset in June, the planet reached its highest altitude in the evening in mid-northern latitudes.

Then on August 17, Venus reached its so-called greatest eastern elongation, or it longest apparent distance from the Sun.

Tomorrow night, however, the best is yet to come, when Venus brightens in magnitude to -4.78 – its highest magnitude of the year.

If you are lucky enough, you might even spot Venus in partnership with Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.

How to see Venus tomorrow?

The planet will shine brightest around the time of the Autumn Equinox, which this year falls on Sunday, September 23.

Astronomers Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd, of EarthSky.org, said stargazers around mid-northern latitudes will see Venus set about one hour after the Sun towards the end of the month.

Mr McClure added: “On and around September 20 and 21, 2018 look for the brightest planet, Venus, now looming in the evening twilight, dazzlingly bright.

“It’s now Venus’ time of greatest brilliancy, a time when the planet takes on an odd appearance; many will report it as a UFO in the days ahead.

“It’s a precursor to Venus’ disappearance from our evening skies in the coming weeks.”

For everyone on Earth, the planet will be visible in the west just after sunset.

But you might be disappointed if you were hoping to spot a big bright orb in the sky.

Instead, Venus will feature in waning phase and will look like a bright crescent – much like the last quarter phase of the crescent Moon.

Despite this, about 25 percent of the Venus’ visible disk will brightly glow in the sunlight.

Mr McClure said: “Venus always shines as the third brightest celestial body in Earth’s sky, after the Sun and Moon.

“However, Venus is about two-and-a-half times brighter at it brightest than at its dimmest.

“Surprisingly, perhaps, Venus shines most brightly in our sky when its disk is about 25 percent illuminated in sunshine.”

On October 26, 2018, Venus will pass between the Earth and the Sun and will appear in the morning skies.

This passage is known as the inferior conjunction of Venus and occurs roughly once every 584 days.

Venus’ next inferior conjunction will take place on June 3, 2020.