It is the ultimate goal of the A.L.P.O. Venus Section to attempt to assemble a completely homogeneous mass of accurate, reliable observational data collected over many apparitions, permitting an exhaustive statistical analysis. It is hoped that we might derive enough from painstaking observations and analysis to help provide some answers to questions that continue to perplex us about Venus.
Venus Blog
2026 Venus Apparition
3/14/2026
In 2026, Venus acts as a brilliant "Evening Star," returning to the western sky in February after superior conjunction onJanuary 6, 2026. The planet will have its greatest separation (elongation) from the sun on August 15, 2026, and maximum brightness around September 18, 2026, before plunging towards an inferior conjunction on October 24, 2026.
Key 2026 Venus Apparition Events:
- Late February:Venus becomes visible in the evening twilight, often paired with Jupiter and a thin crescent moon in a "celestial smile" around Feb 27-28.
- Feb-June 2026:Venus climbs higher in the western sky, getting brighter.
- June 9, 2026:A notable close conjunction with Jupiter.
- August 15, 2026:Greatest Elongation East (46 degrees from the sun), offering the best viewing angle in the evening sky. Greatest Elongation East
- September 18, 2026:Greatest Brightness (Magnitude -4.4),
- October 24, 2026:Inferior Conjunction, Venus passes between the Earth and the sun, ending the evening apparition.Inferior Conjunction
Venus News Headlines
Venus May Have an Underground Tunnel Carved by Volcano Eruptions
2/16/2026
Scientists analyzing decades-old NASA Magellan data have identified a potential underground lava tube on the western flank of Venus's Nyx Mons. This discovery, detailed in Nature Communications, suggests the planet is geologically active rather than dead. While the conduit may extend for kilometers, confirmation requires higher-resolution imagery. Upcoming missions like ESA’s EnVision, equipped with advanced subsurface radar, aim to further explore these volcanic cavities to better understand the evolution of Earth's "twin."
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Envision - Understanding Why Venus Is So Different From Earth
2/16/2026
The EnVision mission is an upcoming ESA-led orbital mission, developed with NASA contributions, designed to study Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere. Planned for launch in 2031, the spacecraft will use a suite of six advanced instruments, including subsurface radar, to investigate why Earth’s "twin" evolved so differently. Over a four-year science phase, EnVision will map the planet's surface and interior to uncover its geological history and current activity.
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Scientists Discover First Evidence of Lava Tubes on Venus
1/30/2026
Researchers are exploring the possibility that Venus contains extensive lava tubes beneath its scorching surface, similar to those found on Earth and the Moon. These subterranean tunnels could offer a stable environment shielded from the planet's crushing atmospheric pressure and searing 870-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. The study proposes that these geological formations might eventually serve as secure locations for future robotic explorers or even human habitats, providing a natural refuge on an otherwise hostile world.
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