April 27, 2025: Venus is closest to Saturn this morning. The Morning Star shows its largest phase of this appearance, known as the greatest illuminated extent.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:52 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:45 p.m. CDT. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
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Venus Summary Article
VENUS AS A MORNING STAR, 2025
Venus and Saturn before Sunrise
Venus passes closest to Saturn this morning and tomorrow morning. While Venus passed Saturn two mornings ago compared to the plane of the solar system, Venus is angling toward the plane and they are after the conjunction. The gap is 3.8°.
This is similar to two ships on the ocean. Both are generally headed in the same direction, but the faster-moving ship is slightly angled toward the slower-moving vessel. At a certain time that have they same terrestrial longitude, this is similar to the planetary conjunction.
The faster-moving ship’s path eventually crosses the slower-moving ship but after sharing the same longitude, they are closer for a short spell after that time. This is what is occurring with Venus and Saturn.
Venus moves eastward quicker than Saturn. The Morning Star passed the Ringed Wonder a few mornings ago in ecliptic longitude, but as it quickly moves eastward it crosses Saturn’s path.
Of course, there is not a collision as the two planets are over 900 million miles apart in space.
Saturn continues to emerge from bright morning twilight. Use a binocular to spot it in the same field of view with Venus.
Greatest Illuminated Extent
Venus is at its greatest illuminated extent. This terms states that Venu’s phase, 26% illuminated, covers the largest area of the sky for this morning appearance.
Consider the moon. For easy explanation, the moon’s orbit is nearly circular. The Full moon phase covers more of the sky than a crescent phase. The moon is roughly the same size throughout its lunation, but the illuminated portion is largest when it is full.
In comparison, Venus looks larger when it is near the Earth and smaller when it is near superior conjunction on the sun’s far side. When near Earth, Venus displays a crescent phase which is larger than when the planet is near the Full phase when farther away.
The Venusian phase is crescent and covers the largest area of the sky – the greatest illuminated extent.
Look for Venus and Saturn in the eastern sky before daybreak.
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