Very Bright “Star” That Doesn’t Move? It’s Probably Venus or Jupiter
A dazzling light that hangs in one place for a long time is very often a planet. Venus is the brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon, and Jupiter is not far behind. Low in the sky they can shimmer, change colour and seem to move, especially when you watch them for a while.
What it looks like
- Much brighter than any star.
- Staying in the same place for a long time, or drifting very slowly as the sky turns.
- Often low in the west after sunset or the east before sunrise (Venus).
- Shimmering or flashing colours when low, because of the atmosphere.
- Still there when you stop looking, and there again the next night.
How to check
- Our sky checker shows which planets were up at your time and place, and in which direction.
- Look again the following night at the same time: a planet will be in almost the same spot.
- Binoculars show a planet as a small disc rather than a point.
Questions
Why does Venus look like it’s moving?
When you stare at a bright point against a dark sky your eyes make tiny movements, so it can appear to wander. Clouds drifting past also make it seem to move.
When is Venus brightest?
Venus is brightest around its greatest elongations, when it appears furthest from the Sun in the evening or morning sky.