Planets TonightVenus in 1987: brightness, position and events
Brightest-4.7around Jan 1
Closest (in table)0.561 au84 million km
Farthest1.729 au
Events this year2
Brightest last year-4.9
Events this year
| Date (JST) | Event | Mag | Dist (au) | Constellation | Elong. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-01-16 05:58 | Greatest western elongation (morning) | -4.5 | 0.673 | Ophiuchus | 47.0° |
| 1987-08-23 15:24 | Superior conjunction | -3.9 | 1.729 | Leo | 1.3° |
Magnitude through the year (lower = brighter)
Twice-monthly position and visibility
| Date | Mag | Dist (au) | Constellation | Elong. | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | -4.7 | 0.561 | Libra | 46° W | Morning sky |
| Jan 15 | -4.5 | 0.667 | Ophiuchus | 47° W | Morning sky |
| Feb 1 | -4.3 | 0.796 | Ophiuchus | 46° W | Morning sky |
| Feb 15 | -4.2 | 0.901 | Sagittarius | 45° W | Morning sky |
| Mar 1 | -4.1 | 1.003 | Sagittarius | 43° W | Morning sky |
| Mar 15 | -4.1 | 1.101 | Capricornus | 40° W | Morning sky |
| Apr 1 | -4.0 | 1.215 | Aquarius | 37° W | Morning sky |
| Apr 15 | -3.9 | 1.303 | Aquarius | 34° W | Morning sky |
| May 1 | -3.9 | 1.397 | Cetus | 30° W | Morning sky |
| May 15 | -3.9 | 1.471 | Pisces | 27° W | Morning sky |
| Jun 1 | -3.9 | 1.551 | Aries | 22° W | Morning sky |
| Jun 15 | -3.9 | 1.607 | Taurus | 19° W | Morning sky |
| Jul 1 | -3.9 | 1.659 | Taurus | 14° W | Too close to the Sun |
| Jul 15 | -3.9 | 1.693 | Gemini | 11° W | Too close to the Sun |
| Aug 1 | -3.9 | 1.720 | Cancer | 6° W | Too close to the Sun |
| Aug 15 | -3.9 | 1.729 | Leo | 2° W | Too close to the Sun |
| Sep 1 | -3.9 | 1.726 | Leo | 3° E | Too close to the Sun |
| Sep 15 | -3.9 | 1.711 | Virgo | 6° E | Too close to the Sun |
| Oct 1 | -3.9 | 1.684 | Virgo | 10° E | Too close to the Sun |
| Oct 15 | -3.9 | 1.650 | Virgo | 14° E | Too close to the Sun |
| Nov 1 | -3.9 | 1.598 | Libra | 18° E | Evening sky |
| Nov 15 | -3.9 | 1.548 | Ophiuchus | 22° E | Evening sky |
| Dec 1 | -3.9 | 1.483 | Sagittarius | 25° E | Evening sky |
| Dec 15 | -3.9 | 1.419 | Sagittarius | 29° E | Evening sky |
Computed with the JPL DE421 ephemeris and Skyfield (times in JST). Magnitude and distance are for 12:00 JST on each date. Visibility is a rough guide for mid-northern latitudes such as Japan.
About this page
Venus is brightest around January 1987 (magnitude -4.7); 2 conjunctions, oppositions or elongations occur this year.