Astronomy Practice Exam

Which planet can be seen from Earth at specific times of day and year?

1. Mercury

2. Mars

3. Venus

4. Neptune

The correct answer is: Venus

Venus is known as the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star" due to its brightness and visibility from Earth at specific times of day and year. It orbits close to the Sun, making it one of the most prominent objects in the night sky, but it is only visible shortly after sunset or shortly before sunrise. This is a result of its position relative to the Earth and the Sun, limiting the times it can be seen when the sky is dark enough. In contrast, while Mercury can also be seen from Earth, its visibility is more limited and difficult to predict due to its proximity to the Sun and shorter orbit, making it less consistently visible than Venus. Mars, on the other hand, can be visible at varying times of the night but does not exhibit the same predictable patterns of early morning or late evening brightness characteristic of Venus. Neptune is not typically visible to the naked eye from Earth and requires a telescope to observe. Therefore, Venus stands out for its easy and predictable visibility at specific times throughout the year.