The morning star rises

Wow, I thought Venus was "impossibly bright" as seen from my backyard. Watching it rise in the mountains was just unreal. I saw its glow over the horizon before the planet itself emerged. And after it rose, it visibly brightened the surroundings. The Star of Bethlehem couldn't have been much more stunning.

Best viewed large. Actually, best viewed in person, but the large size gives a much better feel for the scene than does the small photo above.