What is the morning star?

The term "morning star" refers to a bright object visible in the sky just before sunrise. It is not a star in the true sense but usually a planet that reflects sunlight strongly.

In most cases, the morning star is Venus because:

• It is very bright and easy to spot
• It appears close to the horizon before sunrise
• Its thick cloud cover reflects a large amount of sunlight

Sometimes, Mercury can also appear as a morning star, but it is less visible due to its smaller size and proximity to the Sun.

Why it appears in the morning:
Planets like Venus orbit closer to the Sun than Earth. Because of this position, they are visible either just before sunrise (morning star) or just after sunset (evening star).

Important clarification: Despite the name, the morning star is not a star. It is a planet shining due to reflected sunlight.