This June 3, the planet Venus reaches greatest western elongation of 45.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky.
From Baton Rouge (click to change), it will be visible in the dawn sky, rising at 03:36 (CST) – 2 hours and 24 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 25° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:43.
It is observable only for a few weeks each time it reaches greatest separation from the Sun. These moments are referred to as greatest elongation.
On these occasions, however, Venus is so bright and conspicuous that it becomes the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon. It is often called the morning or evening star.
When it lies to the east, it rises and sets a short time after the Sun and is visible in early evening twilight. When it lies to the west of the Sun, it rises and sets a short time before the Sun and is visible shortly before sunrise.