Which planet is known as the morning star?

The planet most commonly known as the morning star is Venus.

Venus earns this title because it appears as a bright object in the eastern sky before sunrise. Its visibility is due to two main factors:

• It is one of the closest planets to Earth
• Its dense atmosphere reflects a large amount of sunlight, making it the brightest planet in the sky

Depending on its position in orbit, Venus can also be seen after sunset. In that case, it is called the evening star.

A quick way to identify it:
If you see a very bright “star-like” object near the horizon just before sunrise, it is most likely Venus, not a star.

Key takeaway: The term “morning star” is a traditional name, but scientifically, it refers to the planet Venus when it appears before sunrise.