When you want to see the stars, find someplace dark
Venus in the Daytime
With the Moon only a few degrees from Venus this afternoon, it should be relatively easy to spot the brilliant planet long before sunset.
Venus photographed on 28May2012, about 13° from the Sun in the mid-afternoon skySpotting planets in the daytime is not that difficult, both Jupiter and Venus are bright enough to seen in full daylight. Venus is currently near maximum brilliance at about -4.6 magnitude, easily bright enough to see in a clear sky. There are a few helpful hints to make this easier.
Today the Moon will aid finding Venus in the sky as it is about 5° north of the Moon. Having the Moon nearby will not only aid in locating the Planet, it will also provide your eyes something to focus on.
Of course these bright objects will be even more dramatic after sunset when Mars will also be visible nearby.
