"when is venus brightest?"?
369510
Venus is brightest about 5 weeks before and after inferior conjunction. The last time was February 17, 2006. Inferior conjunction is when Venus passes directly between the Earth and Sun, which happens 5 times in every 8 years, or about once every 1.6 years.
374900
y Peijean Tsai\nDaily Bruin Contributor\n\nOn a clear day you can see forever. As long as the sky stays clear over the next two weeks, astronomy lovers will witness a cosmic opportunity that will not reoccur until 2040.\n\nUntil May 15 sky watchers will find the five visible planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter – clustered together within 35 degrees of each other in the Western sky as they make their orbits around the sun.\n\nThe rare sight will be visible above the horizon just after sunset and can be viewed with the naked eye.\n\n"We'll all be dead and in the grave before the planets line up like this again," said Jay Farihi, a UCLA graduate student studying physics and astronomy.\n\nStudents and visitors to the UCLA campus have been able to get a closer look at the alignment with the help of telescopes atop the Math Sciences Building.\n\nThe ninth floor houses five telescopes, each 24 inches in diameter, that are used by members of the UCLA Undergraduate Astronomy Society.\n\nThe UAS also hosts weekly planetarium shows on Wednesdays, extending viewing opportunities to community members of all ages, said Matthew Barczys, a UCLA graduate student who helps organize UAS events.\n\nCloudy weather on Wednesday, however, prevented sky watchers from seeing the alignment.\n\n"The weather couldn't get worse than this," said Farihi, expressing disappointment. "Hopefully next Wednesday will be better."\n\nFor Greg Walth, the UAS vice president and a third-year physics student, looking at alignments captures both the entertaining and educational aspects of astronomy.\n\n"You look and you learn, and then you want to learn more," Walth said.\n\nWhile some people fear that planetary alignments could have dangerous effects in the universe, this planetary gathering has no astronomical significance, said Margaret Kivelson, a UCLA professor of earth and space sciences.\n\n"It's just an interesting coincidence, just a very pretty sight in the sky," said Kivelson.\n\nThis particular alignment is not too special for Barczys, who has seen similar arrangements before. He looks forward, however, to May 13 when all five visible planets and the moon can be seen after sunset.\n\nThe same five planets grouped together in May 2000, but the alignment was difficult to observe because of the position of the sun which bleached out the sky, according to the Cranbrook Institute of Science.\n\nMay 2006 there is a possible bright comet: Comet S-W3 73P, Comet 73P / Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, possibly may be a bright sight in the sky, from May 13-June 6. It is closest to earth on May 13 and closest to the sun on June 6 (6-6-06!
1057689
It is not a star but a planet which you can tell since it is not twinkling. Stars are so far away they appear as a point, while planets have a observable disk. Wind in the upper atmosphere then causes the light to bend which causes star light to twinkle but planets do not. \n\nOnce you determine it is a planet because it is not twinkling. You can rule out it being venus since it is too far from the sun. Venus is also usually a bit brighter.\n\nNow it is too bright to be Saturn or certainly any further planet. That leaves Jupiter or Mars. These you can distinguish by color. Mars has a reddish tinge to it. What you are observing does not.\n\n It is Jupiter. If you have a good pair of binoculars you should even be able to make out a couple moons.
254931
Only Mars and Saturn are visible.  Towards the end of April, Jupiter will appear.  If you get up early in the morning, you might still be able to catch Venus and Mercury.
404550
Most likely Venus, as those above me have stated, but Jupiter is also a possibility.  \n\nStarmaps are readily available on the internet, and that would tell you for sure. \n\nHowever, a more fun way to find out would be to take a telescope outside and look at the planet.  Even a very low-end model telescope will have the resolution to see the moons of Jupiter.  Watch it for a week, if you don't see any moons or the giant red spot, it's Venus.
81224
It depends on where you live. But most reported "star" is Venus, a very bright yellow/white blob on the sky setting or rising a few hours after or before the Sun. It has two old names "Evening star" and "Morning star" refering to it setting just after the Sun sets, or rising just before the Sun rises.
210557
i think the minimum temp of venus is its Day-side temperature which is  40° C/104° F. while its overall surface temperature is highly uniform and its about 462° C. i hope this info helps.. :)
175236
Mercury is close to the sun. It is visible only when the sun is below the horizon. It is seen either before sun rise  or after sun set.\n Venus is the second closest to the sun and closest to earth. Some times it is seen as morning star and some times as evening star. Sme times it is seen 4 hours before sun rise and 4 hours after sun set
479537
Hi! Venus in the sky is an amazing sight! Being an inner planet of the solar system, Venus is only visible for a few minutes either just before sunrise or just after sunset.\n\nThe best time to view the planet is before sunrise. You will be able to observe Venus in the east. Check your local newspaper for the timings of the sunrise. Preferably, go to a place at high elevation so that Venus is not obscured by any high buildings there may be.\n\nHope you have a good sighting of the morning star soon!
280790
Venus was the first planet found as it is the third brightest object in the sky aside from the sun and the moon, sometimes being bright enough to be seen in daylight. As such, it was seen when people first began to look at the sky.\n\nThe oldest written record of Venus is from Babylon around 1600 BC in which the position of Venus was tracked for 21 years.
331811
I have a guess, what yous saw was planet Jupiter.  No, Venus can not be seen exactly between East and West in the middle of the night.
11596
venus?\n\nhttp://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Venus+%28planet%29&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1
602063
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is thought to be similar to the Earth in many ways.  Its diameter is just slightly smaller than the Earth's, and it is believed that Venus weighs just  slightly less than the Earth.  \n\nThe surface of Venus is thought to be covered by plains and mountains much like the Earth.  There appear to be a few active volcanoes, and it is believed that Venus was covered by many active volcanoes millions of years ago. \n\nUnlike the Earth, there are no craters left behind by meteorites, and Venus has no moons or satellites.  Venus has no oceans, water, ice, or water vapor on its surface or in its atmosphere.  Instead, Venus is covered by a very thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid.  \n\nIts thick atmosphere produces a powerful "greenhouse effect," causing the temperature to rise to 740 degrees.  Many astrophysicists believe that water did exist on Venus at one time, but that it was boiled away by the "greenhouse effect."\n\nVenus is the third brightest object in the sky; only the Sun and the Moon are brighter.  Because of its brightness, it is believed that Venus has been observed since prehistoric times.\n\nVenus rotates very slowly on its axis.  It takes 243 Earth days for Venus to make one complete rotation on its axis.  Venus revolves around the Sun slightly faster than it rotates on its axis.  In other words, a day on Venus lasts longer than one Venetian year.  \n\nVenus also rotates backwards or retrograde when compared to the Earth and the other planets in our solar system.
391829
Venus, but the brightness of the light reflecting off it is simply because of its close proximity to earth.
512429
Hmmm... I'd say sometime in pre-school or earlier when their mother or teacher said, look sweetheart, that is the sun.\n\nDid you want to clarify your question?
126155
I believe it is still a morning star.  Note that when Venus is brighter as a morning star than a evening star.  As a morning star, it has an apparent magnitude of around -4.5.  As an evening star it has an apparent magnitude of around -3.7.  However, not many people are up before sunrise to watch this event, so we most likely can only see it as an evening star which is next year.\n\nAlso, it is not a star, it is a planet.  The term "star" is used because it essentially looks like a brilliant star.
125624
Venus.\n\nAnd since no one else is citing an authoritative source:\n\nhttp://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950815.html\n\n" Venus: Earth's Sister Planet"