I gathered the following information for 'Venus, the facts' from the web. Credits: the first article comes from http://stargazing.suite101.com (click the link to view) and the second, which provides a step to step guide to identifying the planet, has been written by Douglas Christian Larsen for Ehow. Also included below are links to some other very informative sites. Enjoy!
How to Locate Venus in the Night Sky
Contributor
By Douglas Christian Larsen, eHow Contributing Writer
·
Locating the planet Venus in the night sky is usually not difficult. Venus is the closest planet to Earth, and it resides between the Earth and the sun. Therefore, after the moon, Venus is the brightest body in the night sky. Known as "the morning star" when seen just before sunrise in the eastern sky and "the evening star" when seen in the western sky at twilight, Venus is most easily seen during its cycles of moving farther away from the sun.
Things You'll Need:
· Clear night sky
· Binoculars
· Telescope
1. Step1
Situate yourself in a dark location with an open view of the night sky, preferably away from city illumination.
2. Step2
Depending on the time of day you are viewing the sky, you will view either the western or eastern horizon. Since Venus is closer to the sun than is Earth, it helps to imagine that Venus is following the sun; so in the evening, Venus is in the west following the setting sun, and in the morning, it's in the east running ahead of the sun.
3. Step3
In the evening, Venus should be visible in the western sky for approximately 3 hours after sunset. Toward morning, Venus should be visible in the eastern sky for approximately 3 hours before sunrise.
4. Step4
Venus will always appear brighter than any other star or planet. Once Venus is located with the naked eye, the planet may be viewed through either powerful binoculars or a telescope. Seen through a telescope, Venus may be seen in phases, similar to the moon (from full to crescent), depending on its position in relation to the sun.
5. Step5
Venus will also appear brighter, and larger, when closer to Earth.
Hi Lesley, what a fascinating post, unfortunately I'm subject to city illumination but my parents live in the country and get some beautiful clear skies, next time I stay with them I'll take the binoculars and enjoy a Venus hunt!!
ReplyDeleteHaving fun catching up with everyone after being offline for far too long! Anne x
Great information, thanks Lesley. Just need to get out of the town now!It is wonderful the diversity of interests and information you find on your contacts blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteYour top photo looks almost like inkblots that have blead on dark blotting paper. Such lovely photographs.
Hello Lesley. It's been ages since I was able to visit blogs as our dear computer crashed and this one is so very slow. off for a catch up now. Gorgeous moon images xx
ReplyDeleteliking the sickle moon & Venus ..
ReplyDeleteCP
http://www.fotothing.com/CeterusParibus/photo/70278518289dbcc56931746e31461984/
Love it!! Absolutely fasinating!!
ReplyDeleteC x
Hello everyone and thanks for commenting. There won't be any photos tonight sadly as it's very, very misty or 'as thick as a bag'. Better weather for tomorrow hopefully. x
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, my son is obsessed with stars and planets so we will be looking out for it,
ReplyDeleteM x
Rather a lot of sky pollution here, but when Venus is low in the morning sky, then we can see her (providing there isn't cloud cover, of course!!) I used to love watching stars where we lived before, no street lights there, and now I can't get my neck in a comfortable position anyway. Ah, the trials of old age!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Kayla and Gilly, hope all is well with you both. Still dull and misty in this corner of Cornwall. Not raining though, so I probably shouldn't complain! x
ReplyDelete