Muscat – Stargazers are in for a treat as the skies over Oman will witness a striking celestial phenomenon on Sunday. Planet Venus will reach its maximum brightness, appearing as a brilliant object on the western horizon after sunset.

Wasal bint Salem al Hinai, Vice-President of Community Communication at Oman Society of Astronomy and Space, said, “Venus is the third brightest object in the sky after the sun and the moon, with an apparent brightness of -4.52 magnitude, making it about 30 times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star.”

She explained that Venus will be at its closest point to Earth during this period, reflecting a large amount of sunlight in its crescent phase. “This makes it appear exceptionally bright and clear, especially when viewed through telescopes that can reveal its cloud-covered surface,” she said.

Venus will remain visible in the evening sky till mid-March before disappearing on March 16. “It will then reappear on the eastern horizon at the end of the month as the ‘morning star’,” Wasal said. She described this period as a “golden opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts” to observe the planet with the naked eye or through telescopes, which will highlight the details of its crescent phase.

Venus is classified as an inner planet because it orbits within Earth’s path around the sun. “Unlike outer planets, it does not appear throughout the night but is visible either before sunrise in the east or after sunset in the west,” she said. During these times, Venus is far enough from the sun’s glare to be seen clearly.

Ancient civilisations closely observed Venus, referring to it as the “morning star” and “evening star” due to its predictable appearances. Its thick atmosphere, composed mainly of carbon dioxide with traces of nitrogen and sulphuric acid, reflects 75% of sunlight, giving it its striking glow. However, this atmosphere also traps heat, making Venus the hottest planet in the solar system, with surface temperatures reaching 467°C – hot enough to melt lead. The atmospheric pressure is 92 times that of Earth, equivalent to the pressure experienced at 900m below sea level.

“Despite extensive study, Venus still holds many secrets,” Wasal said. “Global space agencies, including NASA and the European Space Agency, are planning missions to uncover the planet’s history and understand why it became a hostile world despite its similarities to Earth in size and composition.”

Venus’ peak brightness presents a rare spectacle for stargazers, offering a chance to witness one of the most striking sights in the night sky.