Venus takes center stage this month.

It will be high in the evening sky and shining brightly this weekend. You might have seen Venus already - it’s the brightest object in the night sky behind the full moon.

The second planet from the Sun will be at greatest elongation Aug. 14-15.

This means that Venus will be the farthest from the Sun and easily visible after sunset.

It will shine at magnitude -4.3, so it’s easily seen with the unaided eye.

Be sure to look for the very thin new crescent moon hanging near Venus this Saturday evening.

Venus will be visible throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall.

Starting in November, Venus will go from an “evening star” to a “morning star.”

The planet will be at western elongation in early January, when it will be best viewed in the pre-dawn sky.