Here's why:
* Brightness: Venus is the brightest planet in our solar system, often outshining even the brightest stars.
* Proximity to the Moon: Venus appears close to the moon in the sky because both objects are relatively close to Earth in our solar system.
* Appearance: Venus is often referred to as the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star" because it appears brightest in the evening or morning sky, respectively.
Important Note: While Venus is the most likely culprit, it's possible that another bright star, such as Sirius, could also appear near the moon at times. To be sure, you can use a stargazing app like SkySafari or Stellarium to identify the object in the sky.