March 2025: Evening Star Venus appears to drop from the evening sky, pass Earth, and emerge from bright sunlight into the morning sky as the Morning Star.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus, Evening to Morning
Venus rapidly shifts from the evening sky to the morning sky. Watch it seem to drop into bright evening twilight and then emerge from bright sunlight into the morning sky.
As the month opens, Venus shines brightly in the western sky after nightfall. It outshines all starlike bodies. During early March, the planet rapidly leaves the western sky, as if it were falling in slow motion.
On March 1st, Venus sets 160 minutes after sundown. Setting about 6 minutes earlier each evening compared to sunset, the Evening Star sets 90 minutes after sundown at mid-month.
Venus and Mercury are joined by the moon on March 1st. Step outside at 45 minutes after nightfall. The brilliant planet is over 20° up in the west, 6.7° to the upper right of the crescent moon, 5% illuminated, and 14.4° above Mercury, standing over 6° above the horizon.
Telescopic Views
Through a telescope, the planet shows an evening crescent phase which is 14% illuminated.
By mid-month, the planet’s size grows nearly 20% and the phase decreases to a razor-thin 3% illumination.
Mercury Joins Venus
As Venus leaves the evening sky, Mercury enters the western sky for its best evening appearance of the year and is at its widest separation from the sun, known as the greatest elongation. On March 8th, Venus is nearly 15° above the western horizon at 45 minutes after sunset, 6.6° to Mercury’s upper right.
Four nights later, Mercury passes 5.5° to Venus’ lower left in a wide conjunction. At 30 minutes after sunset, Venus is 11° above the western horizon.
Use a binocular to see Mercury in the same field with Venus. Mercury’s brightness fades as it recedes into brighter sunlight. Look carefully for it at this level of twilight.
Inferior Conjunction
Venus overtakes Earth, passing between our world and the sun on March 22nd, known as inferior conjunction.
Venus, Morning Star
Just four mornings later, the planet is nearly 4° up in the east-northeast at 30 minutes before sunrise. On this morning, the crescent moon, 13% illuminated, is 7° up in the east-southeast less than 40° to Venus’ right. Find a clear horizon looking toward the eastern sky. The next morning, the moon is lower and over 35° to the Morning Star’s right.
By month’s end Venus rises over and hour before sunrise in the east-northeast. Thirty minutes before sunrise, the Morning Star is over 5° above the horizon and easily visible without an optical assist.
During early March, watch Venus appear noticeably lower in the sky and then reappear in the morning sky at month’s end.
Venus continues in the eastern sky as the Morning Star for the remainder of the year.
RECENT PODCASTS
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, September 28: Harvest Moon Shines Near Saturn While Jupiter and Mars Dominate the Morning Sky
September 28, 2026: The Harvest Moon shines near Saturn while Jupiter and Mars brighten the predawn sky. Venus and Mercury remain low after sunset as Saturn approaches opposition. - 2026, September 27: Daylight Shrinks After the Equinox as Autumn Advances
September 27, 2026: Daylight falls below 12 hours across the northern hemisphere. Learn why daylight and nighttime are not equal at the equinox and how the changing season affects skywatching. - 2026, September 25-29: Harvest Moon and Saturn Share the Autumn Sky During the Season’s First Week
September 25-29, 2026: The Harvest Moon occurs September 26 and appears near Saturn during several evenings. Learn why the moon rises later each night while changing little in altitude after sunset. - 2026, September 25: Watch Mars Align with the Gemini Twins as it Approaches Jupiter
September 25, 2026: Mars lines up with Castor and Pollux before sunrise while Jupiter shines brightly near Regulus. Watch the Red Planet close the gap to the Jovian Giant ahead of their November conjunction. - 2026, September 24: Venus in Bright Twilight While the Harvest Moon Nears Saturn
September 24, 2026: Brilliant Venus shines through bright twilight while the Harvest Moon approaches Saturn. Before sunrise, Jupiter dominates the morning sky and Mars aligns with Castor and Pollux.