Venus is set to reach its brightest point in the sky on April 24, appearing as a -4.4 magnitude, making it visible just 67 days after its previous appearance. The planet has been dubbed the “Morning Star” due to its eastward position at sunrise, following an inferior conjunction with the sun on March 22.
As Venus approaches Earth, it gains size and brightness from our perspective. However, despite being the brightest in recent months, it appears as a 23%-illuminated crescent when viewed through a telescope. The inner planets, including Venus and Mercury, exhibit similar crescent appearances due to their orbiting motion around the sun.
Throughout late April, Venus will remain visible, accompanied by an 8%-illuminated crescent moon on April 25. Saturn will sit below Venus throughout the month, forming a smiley face-like pattern with the two celestial objects and the moon. This rare alignment offers a unique opportunity for stargazers to witness these celestial bodies together.
Note: This event marks the closest approach of Venus to Earth in 2026, occurring on September 22.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/venus/see-venus-at-its-greatest-brilliancy-this-week-or-wait-until-sept-2026