Steady Light, Many Names: Five Faces of Venus

After several months as the Morning Star, Venus has returned to the twilight side. It’s still low in the Northern Hemisphere sky, but you might be able to catch a glimpse near sunset. Back when I kept a star journal, this bright light was one of the first I learned to identify and track. It has received many faces and stories throughout the world, with sometimes quite different personalities. To celebrate the return of the Evening Star, I’d like to share a selection of these faces with you. Though I only have room to go into five in detail, I’ll include some of their close relatives or neighbors as well as a few media appearances.

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Two Major Love Days: Part 1—Valentine’s Day

For better or for worse, Valentine’s Day has passed, leaving some with beautiful memories, some with new relationships, and some with cross sighs. I hope yours was one of the better ones! Whether you love it or hate, celebrate it or shun it, Valentine’s Day remains a popular day to celebrate love and romance. If that’s not your thing, you may be glad to have it behind you. However, if you can’t get enough with one love day, there’s more ahead, like White Day! The number of love days that exist around the world is staggering. I’d like to take a look into two of the biggest, starting with that flood of chocolate, greeting cards, and anxiety, Valentine’s Day.