Lucifer

: This article is about Lucifer the star or fallen angel; for other meanings, see Lucifer (disambiguation).

"Lucifer" in Astronomy

Given the fact that the planet Venus/Lucifer is an inner planet, meaning that its orbit lies between the Asteroid Belt and the Sun, it can never rise high in the sky at night, from our Earthly point of view, since it is physically located closer to the Sun than our own planet. It can be seen in the morning sky for an hour or so before the Sun rises, and in the evening sky for an hour or so after the Sun sets, but never during the dark of midnight.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The planet Venus/Lucifer is the third brightest object in the sky, with the Sun being first, and the Moon being next. As bright and as brilliant as it is, it is possible that ancient people couldn't understand why it couldn't be seen at midnight like the outer planets, or during midday, like the Sun and Moon, thusly inventing myths and stories about it being "cast out of the high heavens" or "fallen from heaven".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~