11 replies to this topic

[mikeDnight]

Venus 2nd Jan 17, using a 100mm refractor, unfiltered.

 

Mike

[Sheliak_sp]

Wow, wonderful sketch and nice details! I would love to see through that Takahashi, thanks for sharing it!

 

Migue

[Sasa]

Wonderful sketch, Mike. I was out on December 30 with E50/540mm Zeiss refractor. Main target was blazar CTA102, but I could not resist to point the telescope on Venus. I had a feeling that there were indeed some low contrast albedo features at 90x, I had not time to make sketch to check if they were real later on (I don't observe Venus too often and I have basically no experience what concerns clouds on Venus).

[Aquarellia]

A nice observation, bravo.

Thank you for sharing this.

Michel

[Uwe Pilz]

I sketched Venus after a few days in the last time. At every observation I found some detail. But never such an amount. Congratulations.

[frank5817]

I like the look of this Venus sketch.

Frank

[niteskystargazer]

Mike,

 

 Nice sketch of Venus   ,

 

CS,KLU,

 

 ,

 

Tom

[Tom_m]

Impressive details! Unbelievable!

[Sasa]

Mike, you inspired me and I gave Venus a try this evening. I had no time to let the telescope to settle down, the haze was getting quickly stronger and stronger and I started with observation right after I set it up. Poor telescope, both tube and lens recieved 32C thermal shock (it was -12C outside) - usually I keep at least the tube in the shed, not this time unfortunately.

Indeed, there were some low contrast albedo features visible in my 82mm refractor. This time I made an effort and I tried to record them:



The most prominent, and my only sure feature was a darker line following the southern edge, like in your sketch. The rest are not 100% sure, just my best guess. There were also small, quite dark two tips at the terminator. Not sure, if it was not just an effect of seeing, they tend to appear at the same places so I draw them.

BTW, I then checked Mars after this. There was not much to see at 278x, just some darker albedo belt roughly around equator going through the whole disk. It was more dark at its northern edge. Looking at Mars map now, it seems like it was real (to my surprise) and I detected Sinus Sabeaus and Sinus Meridiani.

Edited by Sasa, 11 January 2017 - 07:34 AM.

[mikeDnight]

Mike, you inspired me and I gave Venus a try this evening. I had no time to let the telescope to settle down, the haze was getting quickly stronger and stronger and I started with observation right after I set it up. Poor telescope, both tube and lens recieved 32C thermal shock (it was -12C outside) - usually I keep at least the tube in the shed, not this time unfortunately.

Indeed, there were some low contrast albedo features visible in my 82mm refractor. This time I made an effort and I tried to record them:



The most prominent, and my only sure feature was a darker line following the southern edge, like in your sketch. The rest are not 100% sure, just my best guess. There were also small, quite dark two tips at the terminator. Not sure, if it was not just an effect of seeing, they tend to appear at the same places so I draw them.

BTW, I then checked Mars after this. There was not much to see at 278x, just some darker albedo belt roughly around equator going through the whole disk. It was more dark at its northern edge. Looking at Mars map now, it seems like it was real (to my surprise) and I detected Sinus Sabeaus and Sinus Meridiani.

Very nice sketch! It's difficult to see the subtle detail and equally difficult to put it down on paper, but your observation is excellent. Also, the view of Mars that you had, though challenging, appears to have been well worth the effort. 

 

Mike 

[Special Ed]

Mike, you and Sasa have both posted very well done drawings of our sister planet.  Some people just give brilliant Venus a quick look and move on when they see nothing but a blazing orb, but careful observations done under the right conditions will reveal the kind of subtle detail that you show. 

[frank5817]

Alexander,

Fine looking captures of Venus to go with Mike's fine sketch.

Frank