Old Project Avalon Forum (ARCHIVE) - View Single Post - Have You see the Bright Heavenly body in the sky?

Antaletriangle · 02-09-2009, 12:19 PM

Venus in the west at this time of year.

http://blogs.fayobserver.com/backyar...unday-evening/

http://dsc.discovery.com/space/top-10/sky-events-2009/
Venus is getting closer to earth each day...
7. Venus Closes in on Earth - March 27

At the end of March, Venus passes from the evening sky into the morning sky -- ending several months as an "evening star" and beginning several months as a "morning star."

Along the way it passes between us and the sun, coming as close to Earth as any planet can (an "inferior conjunction" that happens every 580 days or so).A cautiously-aimed telescope can pick out Venus in the daytime as an ultra-thin crescent sitting just above the sun, a rare and memorable sight.

Venus is center stage

By Johnny Horne
Photo editor
Right now, it gleams high in our southwestern sky at dusk.

Four hundred years ago, Galileo pointed his crude telescope its way and saw it undergo phases just like the moon.

That object is Venus, the second planet from the sun.

It ranks as the second brightest object in our night sky, surpassed only by the moon. It’s so bright it can be seen in broad daylight, and it can even cast a noticeable shadow at night. It will be about as bright as it ever gets in early February.

Tonight, if skies clear, you’ll find Venus to the upper left of the crescent moon. Friday night, Venus will hang below the moon.

One reason Venus shines so brightly in our skies is because it is covered with an unbroken layer of clouds. These clouds are great reflectors of sunlight. That, combined with the fact that Venus is the closest planet to us, makes for a dazzlingly brilliant object.

On clear afternoons in the coming weeks, you may be able to spot Venus using your eyes alone well before sunset.

Venus is undergoing its most dramatic phase change in the coming weeks; you’ll need a telescope — even a small one — to see it. Venus is an interesting object to observe regularly through a telescope, especially between now and mid-March.

Venus and Mercury are “inner” planets whose orbits lie totally within the orbit of the earth. Because of this, we see them undergo phases as various portions of their sunlit and shadowed areas turn toward us while they move around the sun. Venus takes 224 days to circle the sun once.

Right now, a view through a telescope shows Venus as a little less than half sunlit with a 42 percent sunlit face. By early March, it will appear slimmer, with only about a 13 percent sunlit crescent. But as its phase shrinks, the apparent diameter of Venus will grow. That’s because Venus is moving closer to us as it swings between the earth and the sun. Because Venus is an inner planet, we will always see it in the general direction of the sun. We’ll never see Venus rising in the east as the sun sets in the west; earth is never between Venus and the sun. It is about as far from the sun in the sky right now as it can be, with an angle of about 46 degrees separating Venus and the sun. Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy of its 2009 evening sky appearance on Feb. 5.

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ON THE WEB

Read Johnny's blog

PHOTO SLIDE SHOW

Astronomical images
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One physical characteristic of Venus that differs from the other known planets is that it’s almost exactly the same size as Earth. But the thick, cloudy Venusian atmosphere traps sunlight in a ramped up greenhouse effect. This sends temperatures on the rocky surface soaring to some 900 degrees, or about twice as hot as a household oven.

Venus in the park
You can check out Venus through a telescope on Feb. 6 at Lake Rim Park, weather permitting.

As part of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, the Fayetteville/ Cumberland County Parks and Recreation Department and the Sandhills Astronomical Society are holding a series of monthly public telescope viewings of objects in the evening sky. This, the International Year of Astronomy, marks 400 years since the first telescope observations of the sky by Galileo in 1609.

The next event is March 6 at Kiwanis Park on Fort Bragg Road. The sessions are free, but prior registration is required with the parks department. The events are limited to 50 people ages 8 and older. Call the parks department at 433-1579 to register if you would like to attend the February session.

Clear skies are needed for the sessions, so a given session is canceled with no makeup date for that month if skies are cloudy.

Check the Backyard Universe blog at blogs.fayobserver.com/ backyarduniverse for more on the observing sessions and whether weather conditions are good on Feb. 6.

02-09-2009, 12:19 PM	#12
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Re: Have You see the Bright Heavenly body in the sky? Venus in the west at this time of year. http://blogs.fayobserver.com/backyar...unday-evening/ http://dsc.discovery.com/space/top-10/sky-events-2009/ Venus is getting closer to earth each day... 7. Venus Closes in on Earth - March 27 At the end of March, Venus passes from the evening sky into the morning sky -- ending several months as an "evening star" and beginning several months as a "morning star." Along the way it passes between us and the sun, coming as close to Earth as any planet can (an "inferior conjunction" that happens every 580 days or so).A cautiously-aimed telescope can pick out Venus in the daytime as an ultra-thin crescent sitting just above the sun, a rare and memorable sight. Venus is center stage By Johnny Horne Photo editor Right now, it gleams high in our southwestern sky at dusk. Four hundred years ago, Galileo pointed his crude telescope its way and saw it undergo phases just like the moon. That object is Venus, the second planet from the sun. It ranks as the second brightest object in our night sky, surpassed only by the moon. It’s so bright it can be seen in broad daylight, and it can even cast a noticeable shadow at night. It will be about as bright as it ever gets in early February. Tonight, if skies clear, you’ll find Venus to the upper left of the crescent moon. Friday night, Venus will hang below the moon. One reason Venus shines so brightly in our skies is because it is covered with an unbroken layer of clouds. These clouds are great reflectors of sunlight. That, combined with the fact that Venus is the closest planet to us, makes for a dazzlingly brilliant object. On clear afternoons in the coming weeks, you may be able to spot Venus using your eyes alone well before sunset. Venus is undergoing its most dramatic phase change in the coming weeks; you’ll need a telescope — even a small one — to see it. Venus is an interesting object to observe regularly through a telescope, especially between now and mid-March. Venus and Mercury are “inner” planets whose orbits lie totally within the orbit of the earth. Because of this, we see them undergo phases as various portions of their sunlit and shadowed areas turn toward us while they move around the sun. Venus takes 224 days to circle the sun once. Right now, a view through a telescope shows Venus as a little less than half sunlit with a 42 percent sunlit face. By early March, it will appear slimmer, with only about a 13 percent sunlit crescent. But as its phase shrinks, the apparent diameter of Venus will grow. That’s because Venus is moving closer to us as it swings between the earth and the sun. Because Venus is an inner planet, we will always see it in the general direction of the sun. We’ll never see Venus rising in the east as the sun sets in the west; earth is never between Venus and the sun. It is about as far from the sun in the sky right now as it can be, with an angle of about 46 degrees separating Venus and the sun. Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy of its 2009 evening sky appearance on Feb. 5. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ON THE WEB Read Johnny's blog PHOTO SLIDE SHOW Astronomical images -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One physical characteristic of Venus that differs from the other known planets is that it’s almost exactly the same size as Earth. But the thick, cloudy Venusian atmosphere traps sunlight in a ramped up greenhouse effect. This sends temperatures on the rocky surface soaring to some 900 degrees, or about twice as hot as a household oven. Venus in the park You can check out Venus through a telescope on Feb. 6 at Lake Rim Park, weather permitting. As part of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, the Fayetteville/ Cumberland County Parks and Recreation Department and the Sandhills Astronomical Society are holding a series of monthly public telescope viewings of objects in the evening sky. This, the International Year of Astronomy, marks 400 years since the first telescope observations of the sky by Galileo in 1609. The next event is March 6 at Kiwanis Park on Fort Bragg Road. The sessions are free, but prior registration is required with the parks department. The events are limited to 50 people ages 8 and older. Call the parks department at 433-1579 to register if you would like to attend the February session. Clear skies are needed for the sessions, so a given session is canceled with no makeup date for that month if skies are cloudy. Check the Backyard Universe blog at blogs.fayobserver.com/ backyarduniverse for more on the observing sessions and whether weather conditions are good on Feb. 6. Last edited by Antaletriangle; 02-09-2009 at 12:46 PM.