Looking up at the western sky after sunset, you may spot two bright points of light – but are they UFOs or celestial bodies? The answer lies with Venus and Jupiter, the closest and largest planets to our sun.
Venus is currently shining brightly due to its proximity to Earth. Its sulfuric acid clouds make it highly reflective, causing it to appear as a brilliant star in the twilight hours. Noticeable by its brightness and position in the southwest sky after sunset, Venus is at its farthest angular distance from the sun during this phase.
On January 10, Venus reached its greatest elongation east from the sun, shining in the southwest sky. This “Evening Star” phenomenon makes it visible as a bright light. However, on January 12, Venus appears half-lit by the sun, similar to a quarter moon. As it moves closer to Earth, Venus will grow brighter and appear as a slender crescent by February.
In contrast, Jupiter is prominent in the east after dark, crossing the sky before setting in the west. Although not as bright as Venus, Jupiter can be seen when other stars have set due to its brightness in the eastern sky. With a current distance of 4.2 Earth-sun distances from us and shining at -2.5 magnitude, Jupiter remains visible for several nights.
Mars is also visible in the east, with its golden light becoming prominent beneath Jupiter a few hours after sunset. As it rises this week just as the sun sets, Mars is at its once-every-789-day opposition when Earth is precisely positioned between it and the sun. With its brightest appearance on Sunday, January 12, 2025, and next occurring on February 19, 2027, Mars offers a rare opportunity to witness its disk being illuminated by the sun.
To identify these celestial bodies, look for Venus in the southwest sky after sunset and Jupiter in the east. Remember that clear skies and wide eyes are essential for stargazing.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2025/01/11/what-is-that-bright-light-in-the-sky-after-sunset