That was a very close pairing tonight; very beautiful and soul-stirring. I watched Venus set behind a distant roof-line. It was interesting in that it didn't wink-out immediately, like a star does during a lunar occultation. It took a couple of seconds to dim and finally disappear; proof that it subtends a measurable angle and not a point source. As Venus approaches superior conjunction, it will swell to a minute of arc in apparent diameter- this is large enough for sharp-eyed individuals to detect the crescent shape. Use a neutral-density (or "moon") filter to dim the dazzling brilliance, and try to see the disk of another planet without a telescope.
After having gone to the trouble of alerting local radio and TV to the event yesterday morning I felt kind of dumb when I forgot all about it and was only brought back to reality when I walked outside after a meeting as saw the two dominating the SW sky. Very impressive. I look forward to seeing the pictures I'm sure some of the folk on this list got. BTW, because I alerted media I made it a point to watch all 4 newscasts last night (ever try to watch 3 TVs all at once?). Anyone here happen to catch the funny during 5's coverage? Chortle... :) On 28 Feb 2009, at 00:12, Chuck Hards wrote:
That was a very close pairing tonight; very beautiful and soul- stirring. I watched Venus set behind a distant roof-line. It was interesting in that it didn't wink-out immediately, like a star does during a lunar occultation. It took a couple of seconds to dim and finally disappear; proof that it subtends a measurable angle and not a point source. As Venus approaches superior conjunction, it will swell to a minute of arc in apparent diameter- this is large enough for sharp-eyed individuals to detect the crescent shape. Use a neutral-density (or "moon") filter to dim the dazzling brilliance, and try to see the disk of another planet without a telescope.
Couldn't agree more Chuck, It was beautiful! I wasn't aware of this pairing until I stepped out of work tonight (Fridays are early nights - whoo hoo!) Had a few co-workers let out "Wow"s which is always fun to hear, and then they turned to me to explain what it is they're impressed by. (I've sorta got a rep at work for these types of things) Anyways I rushed home and set up the 'ol trusty digicam on a tripod and fired off a few quick shots before dinner I've included 2 in my gallery here: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=167 Nothing special or jaw dropping at all, the naked eye view was much more impressive. But the kids looked at it with me and that was worth a few minutes in the cold. Chuck I've always wanted to try and see Venus's crescent naked eye but thought I'd have to try and see it in daylight/dusk settings never thought to use a moon filter thanks for that tip I'll try it out!! Howard --- On Sat, 2/28/09, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Moon/Venus To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 12:12 AM That was a very close pairing tonight; very beautiful and soul-stirring. I watched Venus set behind a distant roof-line. It was interesting in that it didn't wink-out immediately, like a star does during a lunar occultation. It took a couple of seconds to dim and finally disappear; proof that it subtends a measurable angle and not a point source. As Venus approaches superior conjunction, it will swell to a minute of arc in apparent diameter- this is large enough for sharp-eyed individuals to detect the crescent shape. Use a neutral-density (or "moon") filter to dim the dazzling brilliance, and try to see the disk of another planet without a telescope. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Hi Howard It always amazes me that there us such a difference in our skies, your photos of the Moon and Venus are a great example of the differences that our latitudes create Venus in your photo is at 3:30, my photo http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1179 shows Venus at 5:30. Another difference, I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the time. Aloha Rob
Rob, Yeah just rub it in!;-P The moon was moving fast, when I left work I swear they were even. Nice shot. Howard --- On Sat, 2/28/09, Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
From: Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Moon/Venus To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 11:26 AM Hi Howard
It always amazes me that there us such a difference in our skies, your photos of the Moon and Venus are a great example of the differences that our latitudes create Venus in your photo is at 3:30, my photo http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1179 shows Venus at 5:30. Another difference, I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the time.
Aloha Rob
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Howard YUP I love Hawaii and it's fine climate BUT right now we've had a couple of weeks of cool north winds where we see only 70ยบ during the day we have wind warnings up now and Faulkes telescope weather recorded a 57.4 m/s wind and now is stuck there. temps at the summit are below freezing and I'm thinking that rime ice has formed on the instruments, Faulkes web cam is down, Haleakala Crater cam is covered, just another day in paradise :^) Aloha Rob
Howard, you are exactly right implying that photos can't do it justice- it's not your technique at all, it's just a fact of life. A photo will never match the real-life, naked-eye view. I even had my camera handy; I had been shooting a performance of my daughter's at the high school, but I didn't even try. Venus still isn't as large as it's going to get near superior conjunction. That's when you should try and spot the thin, but large and bright crescent. It will be very close to the sun then and the observing window will be short, but it will be at maximun angular diameter when closest to earth. On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 2:04 AM, Howard Jackman <sumoetx@yahoo.com> wrote:
Couldn't agree more Chuck, It was beautiful! I wasn't aware of this pairing until I stepped out of work tonight (Fridays are early nights - whoo hoo!) Had a few co-workers let out "Wow"s which is always fun to hear, and then they turned to me to explain what it is they're impressed by. (I've sorta got a rep at work for these types of things) Anyways I rushed home and set up the 'ol trusty digicam on a tripod and fired off a few quick shots before dinner I've included 2 in my gallery here: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=167 Nothing special or jaw dropping at all, the naked eye view was much more impressive. But the kids looked at it with me and that was worth a few minutes in the cold. Chuck I've always wanted to try and see Venus's crescent naked eye but thought I'd have to try and see it in daylight/dusk settings never thought to use a moon filter thanks for that tip I'll try it out!!
participants (4)
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Chuck Hards -
Howard Jackman -
Patrick Wiggins -
Rob Ratkowski Photography