For observers on Earth, the most common culprit for this "Evening Star" designation is Venus, the second planet from the Sun, or occasionally Jupiter, the gas giant. Jupiter: Often the second-brightest point in the evening sky, its magnitude typically peaks around -2.9, providing a brilliant, steady yellow-white light. Often the second-brightest point in the evening sky, its magnitude typically peaks around -2.9, providing a brilliant, steady yellow-white light. This is the "Evening Star" phase, a period that can last for several months before the planet transitions back toward the solar glare. This cyclical nature ensures that the "Evening Star" is never a permanent fixture, but a transient guest of the twilight.

Source: The Star March 16, 2026 11:26 UTC