Venus: The Mysterious Morning and Evening Star
Venus, often called the Morning Star or the Evening Star, is a fascinating celestial body that has captivated human interest for centuries. While it is not a star but a planet, it outshines most celestial objects in the night sky, making it a prominent feature in our night views.
The Orbits and Visibility of Venus
Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth, completing a circuit around the sun in approximately 8 months compared to Earth's 12 months. Due to its swift movement, Venus can be observed in the sky as both a morning and an evening star, depending on its position relative to the Sun and Earth.
As a result of its orbital characteristics, Venus can be found rising ahead of the Sun in the dawn hours or setting after the Sun in the dusk hours. It can reach a maximum elevation of about 40 degrees above the horizon, making it one of the most prominent celestial bodies visible in the sky.
Brightness and Recognition
The term "Morning Star" is often used when Venus appears before dawn, while "Evening Star" refers to its appearance after sunset. However, the term "Morning Star" is more commonly used, likely due to the brightness and early appearance of the planet in the pre-dawn sky.
One of the reasons Venus is so prominent is its sheer brightness. It outshines Jupiter by more than a factor of two and is often the first "star" to appear in the sky, either an hour before dawn or an hour after sunset. This makes it an easy celestial body to recognize, even for those without prior astronomy experience.
My Personal Observation
During the freezing January 2019 dawn hours, around 4 AM, I captured an image of Venus using a 12-inch wide telescope. The photo was taken with my smartphone set to ISO 600, and a shutter speed of 1/20th of a second, to closely match how the planet appeared through the telescope without enhancing its brightness or size.
This image, equivalent to a 3 zoom, showcases Venus as eerily bright as its namesake implies. The iconic half-moon or quarter-moon shape of Venus is evident. It is positioned horizontally, pointing towards the horizon below the yet-to-rise sun. At the time of the observation, the sky was still pitch dark, offering a stark contrast to the brilliant Venus.
Similarities with the Moon and Distinctive Features
Despite its brightness and prominence, Venus shares some similarities with the Moon. Both planets exhibit phases, but Venus is rather small and its phase is challenging to distinguish. When observed through a telescope, Venus appears as a crescent shape, and its phases are influenced by its position relative to the Sun and Earth.
When Venus is seen in its full round shape, it indicates that it is situated further behind the Sun from an observer's perspective. This is the opposite of how the Moon behaves. The Moon is easy to observe in its full phase, but it is impossible to see as a new moon due to its position in the sky. Venus, on the other hand, is like a "new moon" when it is between the Sun and Earth.
Though not a star, Venus' mesmerizing display in the sky makes it a notable planetary feature. Whether as a morning or evening star, its radiant presence is a testament to the wonders of the cosmos.