A view of the sky at sunset circa April 2025. Venus can be clearly seen in the top right, sometimes leading it to be described as the “evening star.” (Shutterstock/CMaverix)

During World War II, a US Navy Ship Tried to Shoot Down Another Planet

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The planet Venus is easy to see and visually distinctive on the horizon, and has spooked nervous military personnel on several occasions.

Venus is often called Earth’s “sister planet,” but sitting brightly in the night sky, the planet has a tendency to be mistaken for many other things besides a planet.

For centuries, Venus, the brightest planet visible from Earth, has been mistaken for everything from a divine omen to a flying saucer. During periods of maximum brightness, Venus can even become visible in broad daylight, causing confusion and concern amongst soldiers and scientists alike. One notorious incident took place during World War II, in which a US Navy crew—frightened by the planet’s appearance and uncertain of what it was—attempted to shoot it down.

Why Is Venus So Bright?

Venus is the brightest planet in the night sky because it orbits relatively close to Earth—about 24 million miles apart when the two planets are closest together in their orbits of the sun. Mars, by contrast, is about 36 million miles away at its closest. Venus is also physically larger than Mars, with a diameter about twice as large—making it easier to spot in the night sky.

However, Venus’ largest advantage in observability comes from the thick clouds of sulfuric acid covering its........

© The National Interest