December 22, 2021
The planet Venus can be found in the southwest after sunset. Venus is approaching inferior conjunction on January 8, 2022. If you grab binoculars and look at Venus about 30 minutes after sunset, it will exhibit a crescent phase. You will see only 9.1% of the Venusian disk illuminated. Make sure the Sun has set before you try this.
Venus and Jupiter seen in the southwest at 5 pm on December 22, 2021. Sky image simulated using Stellarium. Simulated phase of Venus credit: Solar System Simulator v4.0.
