What is the Venus phase tonight?
Venus is in the waning crescent phase and is 43% illuminated in its phase cycle on January 24, 2025. It appears less than half-illuminated in the sky through a telescope. It is 29.1 arcseconds in diameter.
Venus phases in order
Venus goes through phases just like the moon.
Venus takes about 225 days to orbit the sun relative to the background stars, called the sidereal period of Venus.
However, Venus takes about 584 days to orbit the sun relative to Earth, called the synodic period of Venus. Venus takes the extra time (359 days) as Earth also moves in its orbit.
That’s why Venus takes about 584 days to travel from one inferior conjunction position (i.e., new phase) to the next inferior conjunction position (i.e., next new phase). This is called a phase cycle of Venus.
In a phase cycle, Venus goes through the following phases in order: new Venus, waxing crescent Venus, first quarter Venus, waxing gibbous Venus, full Venus, waning gibbous Venus, third quarter Venus, and waning crescent Venus.
Waning crescent Venus in 2025
Venus will be in its waning crescent phase from January 13, 2025, to March 22, 2025, when it shrinks from its third quarter phase (half Venus) to new phase. It will be visible in the western sky following sunset as it rises after sunrise and sets after sunset.
The illuminated area of Venus will decrease from 50% to 0%, and its disk size will increase from 24 arcseconds to 60 arcseconds during its waning crescent phase.
New Venus in 2025
Venus will reach its new phase on March 23, 2025. It will be invisible to the naked eye as it rises and sets with the sun.
Venus will appear completely dark (0% illuminated) and 60 arcseconds in diameter (on average) through a telescope in its new phase. Only experienced astronomers can capture the new phase of Venus using the proper sunblocking filters.
Venus reaches its new phase when it passes between the sun and Earth in its orbit. This is the inferior conjunction position of Venus. Venus reaches its closest point to Earth (so largest in size) in its new phase.
Waxing crescent Venus in 2025
Venus will be in its waxing crescent phase from March 24, 2025, to May 31, 2025, when it grows from its new phase to the first quarter phase (half Venus). It will be visible in the eastern sky preceding sunrise as it rises before sunrise and sets before sunset.
The illuminated area of Venus will increase from 0% to 50%, and its disk size will decrease from 60 arcseconds to 24 arcseconds during its waxing crescent phase.
First quarter Venus in 2025
Venus will reach its first quarter phase on June 1, 2025. It will be visible in the eastern sky preceding sunrise as it rises before sunrise and sets before sunset.
Venus will appear half (50% illuminated) and 24 arcseconds in diameter (on average) through a telescope in its first quarter phase.
Venus reaches its first quarter phase when it passes a quarter of the way in its orbit around the sun from the inferior conjunction position. Venus appears first quarter (half Venus) in the sky around the time of its greatest western elongation.
Waxing gibbous Venus in 2025
Venus will be in its waxing gibbous phase from June 2, 2025, to January 5, 2026, when it grows from its first quarter phase (half Venus) to full phase. It will be visible in the eastern sky preceding sunrise as it rises before sunrise and sets before sunset.
The illuminated area of Venus will increase from 50% to 100% and its disk size will decrease from 24 arcseconds to 10 arcseconds during its waxing gibbous phase.
Full Venus in 2026
Venus will reach its full phase on January 6, 2026. It will be invisible to the naked eye as it rises and sets with the sun.
Venus will appear circular (100% illuminated) and 10 arcseconds in diameter (on average) in its full phase.
Venus reaches its full phase when it passes the opposite side of the sun relative to Earth in its orbit. This is the superior conjunction position of Venus. Venus reaches its farthest point from Earth (so smallest in size) in its full phase.
Waning gibbous Venus in 2026
Venus will be in its waning gibbous phase from January 7, 2026, to August 11, 2026, when it shrinks from its full phase to the third quarter phase (half Venus). It will be visible in the western sky following sunset as it rises after sunrise and sets after sunset.
The illuminated area of Venus will decrease from 100% to 50%, and its disk size will increase from 10 arcseconds to 24 arcseconds
Third quarter Venus in 2026
Venus will reach its third quarter phase on August 12, 2026. It will be visible in the western sky following sunset as it rises after sunrise and sets after sunset.
Venus will appear half (50% illuminated) and 24 arcseconds in diameter (on average) through a telescope in its third quarter phase.
Venus reaches its third quarter phase when it passes three quarters of the way in its orbit around the sun from the inferior conjunction position. Venus appears third quarter (half Venus) in the sky around the time of its greatest eastern elongation.
Why does Venus have phases?
Venus exhibits the full range of phases because the orbit of Venus is smaller than the orbit of Earth.
When Venus passes between the sun and Earth in its orbit, the side of Venus that faces Earth gets no sunlight and exhibits its “new Venus” phase.
When Venus passes the opposite side of the sun relative to Earth in its orbit, the side of Venus that faces Earth is fully illuminated and exhibits its “full Venus” phase.
Difference between the moon phases and Venus phases
The moon exhibits the same disk size throughout its phases as it orbits around Earth. However, Venus doesn’t exhibit the same disk size throughout its phases from Earth as it orbits around the sun.
Can you see the phases of Venus with the naked eye?
It is very difficult to see the phases of Venus without a pair of binoculars or a telescope.
However, if you have clear eyesight, you can get a hint of Venus’ phase with the naked eye during its extreme crescent phase.
Venus is nearly closest to our Earth (so almost largest in size) during its extreme crescent phase. The angular diameter (disk size) of Venus appears on average 60 arcseconds during its extreme crescent phase. The value is the same as the angular resolution of a human eye. So technically, it is possible to see the extreme crescent phase of Venus with the naked eye.
References
Geocentric Ephemeris for Venus : 2024
Geocentric Ephemeris for Venus : 2025
Geocentric Ephemeris for Venus : 2026
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