Starwatch: Venus catches the eye in the head of the Bull

Venus has returned to the sky. Following its passage between Earth and the sun on 3 June, it can now be seen in the pre-dawn sky. The planet is bright and unmistakable lying in the eastern sky. It is currently located in the constellation of Taurus, the Bull, directly in the group of stars that marks its head. It is close to the bright red star of Aldebaran, which should also be visible in the lightening sky.

Venus currently rises about two hours before the sun but throughout the month, Venus will rise earlier and earlier. By the end of the month, it will appear around three hours before sunrise and so will climb higher in the morning sky. The chart shows the view looking east from London at 04:00 BST on 10 July. Observers in the southern hemisphere will have an easier time spotting Venus. From Sydney, it appears prominently in a fully dark sky and forms a wide, flat triangle with the bright stars Rigel and Sirius.