Astroblog: Searching for Venus's Shadow.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Searching for Venus's Shadow.

A few days ago I linked to this fantastic page by Pete Lawrence on photographing Venus's shadow. Now NASA science has highlighted the story too. It turns out that between now (Tuesday November 29) and Saturday December 3 is the best time to observe Venus shadows. Venus is magnitude -4.7, very nearly at its brightest, and there is no Moon. After December 3 the Moon is in the evening sky and all you will see is shadows from Moonlight. To see shadows from Venus you will need a dark sky site with a level horizon and no interfering artifical lights. You will also need to look after astronomical twilight (that's about 21:57 ACDST, 22:14 AEDST, Venus sets an hour later), when the sky is dark but Venus is still up. you will also need a white screen of some sort to see a shadow against. Then turn your back on Venus, hold an object such as your hand in front of the screeen, and if your eyes are dark adapted you should see a shadow.

Sunday December 4 the Moon and Venus are close together, should make a nice photo shot.

Cool Huh!

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 12:07 am

Comments:

yep i came to this address to see if there were any content at what i was seing. my idea of that bright light was extraterestual sorry im a believer and experiancer only by sight not contact with my friend some 20yrs ago im 29 now. i dont know much about the solor sytem but often gaze at stars. I live in Australia in the state of NSW in the suburb of Post Code 2528 and i have never seen that star next to the moon as bright as that and if i look long enough it looks like its got a halo around it. The time is E.S.T 21.55 4/12/05.
regards
Mustafa
atakmustafa@hotmail.com

# posted by