Venus is called the morning star or evening star because of its position in the sky relative to the sun and its brightness.

Here's how it works:

* Venus orbits the sun closer than Earth. This means it moves faster around the sun.

* Venus's orbit is slightly tilted compared to Earth's. This means Venus can appear either ahead of or behind Earth in its orbit.

When Venus is ahead of Earth in its orbit, it appears in the western sky just after sunset, earning it the name evening star.

When Venus is behind Earth in its orbit, it appears in the eastern sky just before sunrise, earning it the name morning star.

Important Note: Venus isn't actually a star, it's a planet. It appears bright because of its thick, reflective atmosphere and its proximity to Earth.