What observation confirms that Venus, visible before dawn, is currently in its morning phase?

Answer

The Sun is still below the horizon, meaning Venus is definitely in the eastern sky.

The definitive immediate check for identifying Venus's phase depends on the Sun's position relative to the horizon. If the Sun has not yet risen (it is below the horizon), Venus must be in its morning phase, preceding the sunrise. Because it is in the morning phase, it must, by definition, be located in the eastern sky, moving toward the position where the Sun is about to rise, even if its specific azimuth is shifted seasonally.

What observation confirms that Venus, visible before dawn, is currently in its morning phase?
astronomyVenüsplanetskyEast