That bright light after sunset? Venus is starting a summer show that's impossible to miss

"What's that bright light in the sky?" a friend messaged me the other evening. "Venus," I replied, without thinking about it. There was a pause, then: "How can you tell? And why is it suddenly so bright?" People always notice Venus by accident. When it's low on the horizon after dark, but just high enough and bright enough, it suddenly becomes obvious. …