What is the bright star in the western sky?

Venus, which is also the brightest of all the planets, can be spotted in the western sky at nightfall. It is also the third-brightest heavenly body after the sun and the moon.

Venus is not a star, but rather a planet which means it does not emit its own light. It reflects light from the sun and that is why it can be confused for a star. Stars normally emit their own light and are much higher in position when compared to planets in the milky way. Mercury is another planet that can be spotted in the western sky. However, it is not as bright as Venus and appears much smaller in size.