What astronomical phenomenon dictates the constantly changing specific point on the eastern horizon where Venus appears?
Answer
The tilt of Earth's axis relative to the plane of the solar system.
While Venus generally rises in the east as the Morning Star, the exact compass bearing (such as due east, or slightly north or south of east) varies throughout the year. This variation is caused by the geometry between the observer's location on Earth and the orbital plane of the planets, known as the ecliptic. Specifically, the angle at which the ecliptic intersects the local horizon changes depending on the Earth's axial tilt relative to that plane, causing the rising point to shift seasonally.
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