For observers at a mid-northern latitude, what causes Venus to appear low in the southwestern sky after sunset during late winter and early spring?
Answer
The Sun’s path across the sky is relatively low in the southern sky during this time.
The seasonal position of the Sun dictates the geometry of the ecliptic relative to the horizon for observers at different latitudes. During late winter and early spring in the northern hemisphere, the Sun tracks a relatively low path across the southern sky. If Venus happens to be at its maximum eastern elongation during this period, its appearance in the western sky after sunset will follow this low solar track, resulting in it appearing low in the southwestern sky before setting quickly in the west.
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