RIYADH: Venus has been visible to the naked eye across the Northern Borders Region, appearing very bright on the eastern horizon at dawn and on the western horizon after sunset.
Saudi Astronomy and Space Club member Adnan Khalifa noted that Venus is one of the brightest objects after the sun and the moon, and is easily seen at dawn or dusk.
In local tradition, its dawn appearance is called the Morning Star.
When visible after sunset, especially in spring, desert communities use a traditional name tied to shepherding practices: flocks graze until Venus sets, then are brought back to their tents.
Khalifa stated that these traditional names reflect how earlier generations used the sky to regulate daily life in desert environments.
The current visibility of Venus offers a good opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and night photographers, as it is bright and easy to locate without specialized equipment.
Dr. Abouazza El-Mhamdi, an associate professor in the physics and astronomy department at King Saud University’s College of Science, told Arab News: “If you have noticed a brilliant star shining in the evening or morning sky these days, you are looking at Venus, our neighboring planet, putting on its finest display.
“Often called Earth’s sister for its similar size, Venus shines so brightly because its thick cloud cover reflects over 70 percent of sunlight. Venus is the solar system’s ultimate example: a runaway greenhouse effect. Its atmosphere is 96 percent carbon dioxide, trapping heat so efficiently that surface temperatures soar to about 460 C,” added the professor.
Its appearance now coincides with the spring equinox on March 20, when Venus hangs higher in the western sky after sunset, he added.
“As we also approach the close of the holy (month of) Ramadan, this steady, silvery light serves as a natural evening mark, much like in desert traditions, where its appearance once guided shepherds and community life,” he said.
“No telescope needed. Just look west after sunset or east before dawn, Venus is there, a beautiful reminder of how greenhouse gases shape a planet’s fate, shining bright to close the month,” he added.
