How much brighter does Venus appear compared to Sirius at peak visibility?
Answer
Roughly 30 to 40 times brighter
Venus achieves an apparent magnitude as low as -4.6 when positioned optimally for observation. In contrast, Sirius, the brightest true star, shines at approximately -1.46 magnitude. This numerical difference signifies a vast disparity in apparent brightness. Specifically, the text indicates that the reflectivity and proximity of Venus allow it to outshine Sirius by a factor ranging between 30 to 40 times when Venus is at its maximum brilliance in the sky, an effect vastly superior to that of any true star.
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What's That Bright Star in the Sky? It's Not a Star, It's Venus - YouTube
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