For you at sunset, Venus is still 10° above the horizon. That may not sound like much, but actually it is quite high. Even in the mountains, the surrounding peaks are not likely to be that high. And Venus remains in your sky for two hours after sunset, moving from nearly south to the southwest, more parallel to the horizon than perpendicular.starstruck wrote:Ann, I don't think you should feel too bad about not being able to see Venus. It has so far eluded me too . . and I have looked and looked, night after night, when the sky has been clear enough. I have used the Stellarium program to check where it should be and I can see what the problem is, at least from my location. I have hills to the south and west of my position and they effectively block any possible view of Venus because it is so low in the south-western sky by the time the twilight has darkened enough for it to be visible. It is dark here by around 4:30, but even if from my viewpoint the south-western horizon was much less hilly, Venus will already have most likely set.
I can see Venus here before the Sun sets, against the blue sky (that requires very clear air, though). The instant the Sun is below the horizon, however, it is easily seen... once you first pick it out. It is very bright, and does not require dark skies. Try binoculars, and scan low in the south. Once you see it with those, you should be able to pick it out without aid.
Oh, well, just one more event to add to my could not see list. Nothing new about that.
