BBC Sky at Night

THE PLANETS

PICK OF THE MONTH

Venus

Best time to see: 31 January, 07:00 UT

Altitude: 9˚ (low)

Location: Sagittarius

Direction: Southeast

Features: Phase, faint shaded markings.

Recommended equipment: 75mm, or larger

Venus is in its crescent phase this month. You might be fortunate enough to catch the planet in the evening sky right at the month’s start, but it’s heading for inferior conjunction on 9 January so you don’t have long. On the

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