147 replies to this topic

[Sebastian_Sajaroff]

I observed Venus a few times recently. It's really high up in the night sky right now and great observing. Last night the planet was a beautiful crescent shaped, and I noticed it was 100% easier to observe and see through the eyepiece than it was when it was full. Maybe it was just better seeing conditions and the planet was higher up too?

Well, the disk is like 3x larger now.

It's easier to observe a 30" half-lit disk than a 10" full one.

Being higher on the sky also helps !

[Dave Mitsky]

Venus was 46.8%-illuminated when I took this rather poor afocal iPhone photo last night using the Naylor Observatory's 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain. The brightest planet was rather low in altitude at the time and the effects of atmospheric prismatic dispersion were obvious.

Here's a rather poor afocal iPhone photo that I took using the 17" telescope.

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[Dave Mitsky]

This is a more representative screen shot from Stellarium.

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[Overtime]

With years of practice I've been able to see through the clouds of Venus and observe a wealth of surface features with my eyes alone. Back to earth now it's pretty to observe in crescent phase and Astrophysics sells a dedicated Venus filter. I wonder if their are monstrous sized Venus Flytraps on Venus sometimes...

When I viewed Venus it looked like a fireball it was so bright. It was early evening right before it was about to go dark. In hindsight I should have put on a filter I got for the moon that's adjustable. It might have improve what I saw. It moved out of my viewsight before I could do much. I spent so much time attempting to focus. Now that I think of it the brightness was probably why I thought it wasn't in focus. Next time I will have to be prepared and more ready.With all the new info I have from the posts I should be more capable to view it and hopefully take a picture. 

[Overtime]

Venus was 46.8%-illuminated when I took this rather poor afocal iPhone photo last night using the Naylor Observatory's 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain. The brightest planet was rather low in altitude at the time and the effects of atmospheric prismatic dispersion were obvious.

Here's a rather poor afocal iPhone photo that I took using the 17" telescope.

That's better then I remember seeing it. All it looked like to me was a fireball. Bad timing on my part. Hopefully I will get it next time. 

[Nankins]

I viewed Venus tonight and it looked like a bright, very light yellow half-disk.  Honestly the color plus the phase in themselves are one reason why I say Venus is worth observing - just something about the subtlety of the color.  The terminator was definitely visible but I think the wind messed the view too much and I didn't definitely see any cloud features - a bit too windy.  But it was still worth it since it's been 3 years since I last saw any views of Venus that high in the sky and as sharp as I saw it tonight. 

[antarex]

Venus has always been one of my major "white whales" in this hobby. As the closest and most similar to planet to Earth, and a pretty big one, I've always had an interest in it. But I think, like Uranus, there's genuinely not much to see. The clouds are mostly uniform throughout the planet.

 

Despite that, I took another crack at Venus last night. I am confident that if I manage the brightness, what I'm seeing in the telescope is pretty close to what it actually looks like. I observed in twilight and with my porch light on to keep my eyes undilated, and had some ND and color filters at the ready too.

 

I found that, phase aside, the central region seemed a darker shade than closer to the limb. It was nothing spectacular, but it does line up with what a lot of high-res photos show. I am wondering, to those who have observed Venus recently, is that what it looked like to you, too?

I can confirm that about 10 days ago at sunset with good seeing and the C6 at 250x, I also noticed some shadows on the side of the terminator. I used both a 38A blue filter, and a variable polarizer filter (which is great for Venus). Certainly the current generous angular dimensions, combined with a good height at sunset and a phase that is not yet subtle, help to notice details in case of good seeing.

Edited by antarex, 23 January 2025 - 01:23 AM.

[treadmarks]

I can confirm that about 10 days ago at sunset with good seeing and the C6 at 250x, I also noticed some shadows on the side of the terminator. I used both a 38A blue filter, and a variable polarizer filter (which is great for Venus). Certainly the current generous angular dimensions, combined with a good height at sunset and a phase that is not yet subtle, help to notice details in case of good seeing.

Now that my patio door has unfrozen, I went out and looked again with my 102 MCT and new Delite eyepiece. After further study, I've decided the darker shadings or shadows near the terminator I see is where Venus is in twilight or dusk.

 

It's difficult to find true color photos to compare to. The more spectacular photos you can find of Venus sometimes admit (or don't admit) to being contrast enhanced or heavily processed, e.g. https://science.nasa...rom-mariner-10/

 

Visual observers can also enhance contrast with filters, so it is still possible to detect some cloud details. I normally don't set up my C8 here for planets because the seeing is never good enough for 8" of aperture, but I probably should because the issue with filtration is brightness.

 

I think this photo from Messenger is the most realistic unfiltered view of Venus. Or at least the one which most agrees with what I see:

 

 

Regardless, the phases and terminator are themselves details, and reliable high contrast ones akin to Saturn's rings. Usually with Mars I cannot see much more than some dark shadings either.

[John Carlini]

Venus on January 26th, near the horizon. It had a nice crescent.

 

[treadmarks]

I'm going to clarify my earlier statement somewhat. I do believe one of the details I'm seeing is part of the terminator where Venus is in twilight. However I am also seeing darker shades far from the terminator, in the center of the planet, which are fully consistent with the photos here https://www.cloudyni...or-less/page-11 I think these photos are a more accurate representation of Venus as it is right now than it was when Messenger flew by.

 

With Venus at western elongation and Mars at opposition this month, it seems they are dueling from opposite realms of the sky. In terms of observed detail, I have to give it to Venus. Even if I didn't count the terminator and phases it would be close fought. On Mars I've only really seen Syrtis Major so far. I guess I'll have to double my efforts on Mars now, because I got the show from Venus I was hoping for.

[antarex]

I'm going to clarify my earlier statement somewhat. I do believe one of the details I'm seeing is part of the terminator where Venus is in twilight. However I am also seeing darker shades far from the terminator, in the center of the planet, which are fully consistent with the photos here https://www.cloudyni...or-less/page-11 I think these photos are a more accurate representation of Venus as it is right now than it was when Messenger flew by.

 

With Venus at western elongation and Mars at opposition this month, it seems they are dueling from opposite realms of the sky. In terms of observed detail, I have to give it to Venus. Even if I didn't count the terminator and phases it would be close fought. On Mars I've only really seen Syrtis Major so far. I guess I'll have to double my efforts on Mars now, because I got the show from Venus I was hoping for.

Thank you for appreciating my image of Venus in UV.
I confirm what you wrote... with the eyepiece with the previously mentioned filters (38A blue, and a variable polarizer), I also noticed shadows inside the disk, and I'm not talking about the terminator.

Edited by antarex, 31 January 2025 - 02:19 AM.

[Sebastian_Sajaroff]

I'm going to clarify my earlier statement somewhat. I do believe one of the details I'm seeing is part of the terminator where Venus is in twilight. However I am also seeing darker shades far from the terminator, in the center of the planet, which are fully consistent with the photos here https://www.cloudyni...or-less/page-11 I think these photos are a more accurate representation of Venus as it is right now than it was when Messenger flew by.

With Venus at western elongation and Mars at opposition this month, it seems they are dueling from opposite realms of the sky. In terms of observed detail, I have to give it to Venus. Even if I didn't count the terminator and phases it would be close fought. On Mars I've only really seen Syrtis Major so far. I guess I'll have to double my efforts on Mars now, because I got the show from Venus I was hoping for.

You’re right, Venusian clouds form a chevron < in the equatorial/tropical area. That shape is readily visible in UV, sometimes it shifts a bit into the violet and becomes (barely) visible to our eyes.

Edited by Sebastian_Sajaroff, 01 February 2025 - 09:47 AM.

[Mcloud]

Under ideal seeing conditions with a 4 inch apo I have been able to make out some of the dinosaurs and Jurassic vegetation on Venus using dino filters and very high powers.
Okay not but last Saturday night I did watch scientists land on Venus and extract blood samples from dinosaurs on an old black and white sci-fi flick! 🦕

[PKDfan]

You’re right, Venusian clouds form a chevron < in the equatorial/tropical area. That shape is readily visible in UV, sometimes it shifts a bit into the violet and becomes (barely) visible to our eyes.

Hi Sebastian !

I used my zoom 60mm Discover at about 50X a couple weeks past and was totally stunned to see that chevron look so my acuity going deep into the spectrum is noted.

Seeing that feature made this confirmed Venus planet skipper to skip it much less especially seeing it at such modest power.

It being so brilliant overwhelmed the B&L and had obvious CA but despite its horrid violet appearence I ignored it.


Perhaps this feature needs a certain phase to maximize observation of it ?


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[PKDfan]

 

This photo i snatched from N-1 was very similar to what i saw but with a bit better definition as i described in my post above.

 

It was a really wonderful discovery so next opportunity a couple weeks later, with it much more of a crescent,  i saw no contrast variance whatsoever.

 

I think it likes a gibbous phase to be seen with perhaps just the right grazing angle of light to be better seen ??

 

 

It was a really Special observation that i underplayed in my post so again Venus was a real BABE.

 

 

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[Dave Mitsky]

Here's a screen shot from Stellarium showing tonight's 22%-illuminated Venus.

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[Shorty Barlow]

LOL, that explains why I didn't see what I expected.

You should be able to see the phase. A double polarising filter can be useful. Occasionally you can make out cloud detail. It resembles slightly darker patches on the cloud surface. Seeing this detail is a bit subjective though. YMMV. Detail is possibly easier to view when Venus is at dichotomy.

[Starman1]

Seeing any cloud detail on Venus at all indicates a vision that extends into the near ultraviolet.

Such individuals can use a Ca-K solar scope as well and see details on the sun.

people who can do that are usually young, as the lens of the eye yellows as we age, slowly shutting off any deep violet/indigo, and near UV wavelengths.

[PKDfan]

Seeing any cloud detail on Venus at all indicates a vision that extends into the near ultraviolet.
Such individuals can use a Ca-K solar scope as well and see details on the sun.
people who can do that are usually young, as the lens of the eye yellows as we age, slowly shutting off any deep violet/indigo, and near UV wavelengths.

I should really test that out Don.

My dominant eye has a perceptible yellow tint while my other eyes weak ability to deal with overt brightness and so a big squint reflex over 59 years means that the yellow tint is much less visible.

I think seeing Venusian cloud structure highly depends upon the lights right grazing angle thus i think its really critical to detect any contrast changes on her face.

I saw detail only at the gibbous phase and not at other times but admittedly a very low sample size.

I usually pass on Venus just because i thought ANY detail a step too far and how wrong I was !

I'll put her on an observing watch from now on.



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[treadmarks]

I'm well under 50 so I think that counts as young, probably only in this hobby though. Most people think you can't see any detail on Venus, but a few sources talk about cloud detail here and there. I took that as a good challenge Next up is Mercury. Its evening elongation from the Sun is coming up very soon.

[quilty]

it really depends. Some have already spotted her with the naked eye :-)
She's the brightest natural target at the sky following the moon.
But when you want to detect features (more than half-lit or banana) say cloud structures it's tough in a way I never tried.
Prefer Jupe very much and even Sat is easier.
Then there's the seeing problem. As evening-star you often have to deal with seein issues.
The morning star Venus might do better. But she's earlier, too

Edited by quilty, 22 February 2025 - 12:33 PM.

[tcifani]

Here's a quick pencil sketch I made of Venus last night, just at the end of dusk. Seeing conditions were bad, so I was unable to go above 100x. The image on the right is a Photoshopped simulation of how bad seeing can be early evening when a bright object like Venus is fairly low in the sky. The sketch on the left (the actual pencil drawing) was based on some very brief moments of stillness in the atmosphere. These moments were very few and far between. I spent about half an hour observing Venus before it disappeared behind the trees. I had let my scope cool down for almost an hour prior to observing, and collimation was good, but I probably had a total of just a few minutes of clear observing of the planet. At 100x, I thought I could just barely make out some grayish cloudy texture along the terminator, but it could be my imagination. I've seen details on Venus but at much higher magnifications, under much better conditions. But, I love watching how Venus changes with her phases, and on those rare fine evenings or early still mornings get to see some surface detail.

 

Edit: Venus is flipped and turned in my drawing because I was viewing with a reflector.

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Edited by tcifani, 25 February 2025 - 08:22 PM.

[ButterFly]

It's that time of the go-around again where it's super easy to find it in the daytime.  It's also still far enough away from the Sun that polarizers help dim the sky background, even if only a little.  Despite the shakes, I got a clear phase with my 8x birders a few days ago.  Mounting it made it super easy.  It's still too small to see phase with my 4x, even when mounted, but I'll be trying next week.

[vicuna]

I observed Venus last night through some trees - which was actually a lot of fun. it was almost like watching a sun-rise and sun-set. I could see the rays slowly peek out as it moved past the tree trunk.

[Dave Mitsky]

Here's a photo of Venus being projected onto the wall of the Naylor Observatory's French Dome by a 17" classical Cassegrain which I took on February 4th. 

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