IT IS GETTING a lot easier to see Venus in the evening sky now, writes STUART ATKINSON. For the past couple of weeks it has been hugging the western horizon immediately after sunset, very low down in the sky. But as we begin to move through March the planet often (but very wrongly) called Earth's Twin will start to climb a little higher into the twilight sky every evening.

To find Venus, just look to the west from around 6.30 in the evening and look for an 'out of the corner of your eye' silvery-gold glint of light above the treetops. If you don't spot it right away just take a break and try again when the sky is a little darker - but make sure your western horizon is low and not cluttered with buildings or trees, they might hide Venus from your view.

By 7pm Venus will be easy to see with the naked eye - and you'll notice it has company too. The planet Mercury is close to Venus in the sky at the moment, looking like a fainter, more coppery-hued star just above it its upper right. They will look very pretty shining together seen through a pair of binoculars.

Early risers can still see Jupiter, Mars and Saturn stretched out in a line above the southern horizon. They're starting to bunch up now, which makes the look more striking to the naked eye.