Venus. Venus (at upper right) with the Moon (at lower right) as seen from Earth. The constellation of the Pleiades or Seven Sisters is at top centre. Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is known as the evening star or morning star because it is never visible more than 3 hours before sunrise or 3 hours after sunset. It appears 15 times brighter than the brightest star & is the third brightest heavenly body, being outshone only by the Sun & Moon. Venus does not produce light but reflects sunlight like the Moon. Photographed in Finland. 2223 March 1996