13 replies to this topic

[MikiBee]

I was up for a challenge tonight – to find Venus in the evening sky for the first time this season with my brand new 8x42 ProStaff 7’s, but there was hardly any challenge. In clear skies Venus was very easy to spot in binoculars minutes after sunset if you know roughly where to look. Simplest is to mark where the upper limb of the sun sets behind the local horizon (using caution of course) and Venus will be almost in the same spot some 16 minutes later. My guestimate is that in these conditions is possible to spot it at 75% of today's angular distance to the Sun, or under 3 degrees, but need to wait 19 months for that.

 

I tried to take a photo of Venus with a hand held phone-camera leaning against hand held binoculars but no luck with that. I tried to catch Mercury, but that didn't work either, I didn’t bring a proper camera nor a tripod, I was in a place where my horizon was about 1 degree wide, in other words I was unprepared. I might give it a try tomorrow as the celestial geometry is really good these days.

 

Super happy with the Prostaff 7s 8x42s, a notch up from 3s for which I need to find a new home now.

Edited by MikiBee, 19 June 2024 - 12:55 AM.

[RMay]

I’ve been looking for it (and Mercury) mid-day but with the smoke from nearby fires it’s like looking through the haze of a Grateful Dead concert.

Good luck… I keep trying.

Ron

[Dave Mitsky]

There's quite a bit of information on the 2024-2025 evening apparition of Venus at https://curtrenz.com/venus.html

[MikiBee]

Just had a memorable evening on the shores of Straight of Georgia, memorable sunset, Venus and Mercury both spotted, nearly full moon near Antares...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CHASLX200]

There's quite a bit of information on the 2024-2025 evening apparition of Venus at https://curtrenz.com/venus.html

2 low for me for months.

[CHnuschti]

Was very eager to verify this.

 

Today finally the conditions for it. Fairly clear at the horizon, everything else covered.

 

In the pre-clarification it looked a bit unlikely to me, but I can confirm.

 

With 70/420 @40x I spotted Venus right at sunset, only 3° above it, some minutes later also clear in the binoculars 7x42.

Mercury (-1.2mag) also was in, some 15 minutes later. However I failed to see it in the binoculars, up to 40min after sunset.

In nearly perfect conditions it very well might be in also in binoculars.

 

regards

 

Edited by CHnuschti, 23 June 2024 - 03:49 PM.

[CHnuschti]

Was just able to repeat that this evening 24.06. Although conditions looked "better", cloud free, this time I was not able to see either Venus or Mercury in the 7x42 binoculars (down to disappearance), no problem in the 70/420.

 

Strange somehow, seems to be definitely a question of "clarity". Some Sahara-dust was announced, did not really notice something visually.

 

On a steep curve to learn to handle the RX100, but Mercury was "in" somehow, pic through the 40x eyepiece. At +225° almost at the edge.

 

regards

 

 

Edited by CHnuschti, 25 June 2024 - 07:04 AM.

[MikiBee]

Another epic sunset in the NW. Both Venus and Mercury now visible in a compact zoom camera, no telescope needed:

 

 

 

Mercury was almost a naked eye object but these distant red cirrus clouds were in the way.

Edited by MikiBee, 25 June 2024 - 01:05 AM.

[MikiBee]

Venus is still hanging in there, in the NW skies for mid-latitude northern observers but not for long. This was taken this evening with a compact camera in clear but quite polluted skies.

 

 

Just before setting Venus became a naked eye object.

[CHnuschti]

Could also watch Mercury & Venus today and yesterday.

 

In the range of 0 to 4-5° altitude well to see already in (handheld) binoculars 7x42, Venus also with bare eye, but Mercury not (here).
In my 70/420 I still could not really make out the phase of Mercury (around 70% now), color error ruins it. Would have to be caught earlier higher up in order to recognize it roughly.

 

regards

Edited by CHnuschti, 05 July 2024 - 04:37 PM.

[CHnuschti]

The hint: with tiny crescent moon some 4% today at dusk, should make a lovely sight alltogether. Mercury and the moon within some 2.5°. I shall give a try if some blue is to make out there.

 

regards

 

EDIT: was able to look at it with 70/420. Great show, everything was in. Also in the moon there was quite a lot identifiable, even at twilight. Still, of Mercury I got a weak hint of the phase at best, but the seeing was not that good. Mercury and Venus both well in the binoculars 7x42, but not with bare eye. Got it a bit earlier this time, so almost color-free in the telescope.

 

My photo skills are still awful, so just an "ambiente" shot of the scenery.

 

regards

 

Edited by CHnuschti, 07 July 2024 - 05:34 PM.

[CHnuschti]

Had a short glimpse today evening on Mercury. With the bigger 110/660. Found it at sunset. High enough, no color. The phase was very well to see (60%) at modest 110x. At switch to 190x the cloud cover had already rolled in.

 

regards

Edited by CHnuschti, 10 July 2024 - 03:20 PM.

[CHnuschti]

Was able to look at Mercury 3 consecutive evenings, last today. Venus of course the lighthouse from which to base the "offset" to Mercury.

 

Was never able to catch it before sunset. All 3 times in some minutes around sunset, in my 110/660 at 65x, altimeter as help.
It is now around 50% phase. 65x it's just so recognizable, better at 110x. Was practically color free at fist sight. Most of the time it appears as less than 50%, more sickle like. Just in few steady moments it gives a nice half sphere.

 

While the size is 7-8", appears as less, as the "horns" barely are to see well.

 

In the static 60mm finder to see some 10-15mins after sunset, clarity given. In binoculars 7x42 not really recognizable anymore, up to the very last 2-3° above horizon.

 

regards

Edited by CHnuschti, 19 July 2024 - 03:05 PM.

[CHnuschti]

Mercury still possible with smaller gear. With 110/660, yesterday while the conditions didn't look bad, I was not able to find it. Today evening it was in, found @65x some 15mins after sunset at some 5°. Phase of around 35% could be detected, looked more like 25% visually, but pretty much ruined by the color error. Still "feasible", gets more difficult daily now I expect.

 

regards