Watch for Venus in the New Year

Size comparison of terrestrial planets
(left to right): Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Venus is the focus in the Western sky after sunset in the coming months and shines brightly.  It is very close in size to our own planet but the atmosphere of Venus would not be kind to life. It is mainly made up of dense Carbon and Sulfur Dioxide and would quickly suffocate any human being or any other forms of life there.  The atmospheric pressure is about 92 times that of our own planet and that would feel like being pressed on by a kilometre of water.  If the pressure doesn't kill you then the temperature of 460 degrees C might in about 10 minutes.   Not exactly a holiday vacation hot spot!

Studies of Venus have suggested that several billion years ago Venus was much like our own planet with liquid water on the surface, but a runaway greenhouse effect caused the evaporation of all the liquid water to evaporate into it's atmosphere.

Venus will be having some nice pairing in the sky in the coming months with the Moon, Jupiter and Venus in the coming months. These are excellent for observers and photographers alike, so be ready with your telescope or camera.   Find a nice setting with a foreground object like a tree or building which would make make a nice picture.  Always use a tripod when you can so your picture can be as sharp as possible. 
When to look:

Jan 26th  7º S of Moon
Feb 25th  3º S of Moon
Mar 12th  3º of Jupiter
Mar 26th  1.8º of Moon
Apr  2nd   0.5º of Pleiades, M45
June 5th   Transit of Venus in front of the Sun !!!