Question

In which part of the sky can you find Venus if it is visible as an evening star?
A. Eastern
B. Western
C. Northern
D. Southern

Answer 1

The name “evening star” suggests why Venus is known as evening star. We know that Venus rises in the west as seen from the earth.

Complete step by step answer:
Venus is the closest star of our Earth. We know that Venus follows retrograde motion in the sky. Therefore, it appears to move backward in its orbit. Due to this, Venus rises from the west and sets in the east as seen from the earth.

It is named as the evening star as it rises at the time of evening in western sky where the sun is on the verge of sunset.

So, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information: Apart from Venus, no other planet in the solar system undergoes retrograde motion. Therefore, all the planets rise on the east and set on the west as seen from the earth. Retrograde motion of this planet is due to its greater orbital speed in the orbit. It completes one revolution around the sun in 225 day.

Note: Students should remember the period of revolution of the planets. Retrograde motion does not mean that the planet moves backward in its orbit with respect to earth. It appears to move backward from the earth due to its greater orbital period.