"Rainbow" Venus

[Gregnat73]

After 2 days of heavy rain, the clouds finally broke briefly this evening to reveal a patch of blue sky with a bright yellowish looking "star". At first I thought it was a plane, but as it didn't move I checked on the iPad and found it was Venus so I checked it out in the scope (having only ever viewed it through bins) and it looked amazing!! A clear half disk showing a kind of rainbow spectrum - red at the top gradually changing to purple at the bottom (I guess an effect of the atmosphere/cloud.) Unfortunately before I could set up for a photo, the cloud returned!!!

So it might have only been a 10min session but as I wasn't expecting to see anything astronomy wise for the next few days I was quite happy!!

[Ccolvin968]

I had a chance to check out Venus yesterday evening (20 oct.) saw the same thing you did. It was at half full and a sight to see. I was very happy I got to see it tonight. Hoping your skies get clearer soon!!

[Qualia]

Great report, Greg. Just out of interest what telescope are you using? I ask because those colours you saw may have something to do with your own optics on such a bright object.

[SnakeyJ]

Nice report Greg - I will definitely have a look for this if the clouds allow.   I suspect the rainbow effect is atmospheric dispersion at this low elevation it will be most pronounced on bright objects, giving this vertical rainbow effect.   There's a good article on this here - http://www.skyinspector.co.uk/Atm-Dispersion-Corrector-ADC%282587060%29.htm

[Naemeth]

Great report - looking forward to Venus myself

Great report, Greg. Just out of interest what telescope are you using? I ask because those colours you saw may have something to do with your own optics on such a bright object.

Rob is right, it could have been the telescope. Either that or the atmosphere.

[AndyWB]

A clear half disk showing a kind of rainbow spectrum - red at the top gradually changing to purple at the bottom (I guess an effect of the atmosphere/cloud.)

FWIW, the couple of times I've observed Venus I've seen the same. My notes say "Flaming orange/brown on one side, blue/white on the other, yellow in the middle. Some effect of being low? Seemed like a sunset". That was with a 130mm reflector. I was also able to make out that Venus was about 80% full (this was several months ago)

EDIT: Just read Jake's link - very interesting!

[Gregnat73]

Great report, Greg. Just out of interest what telescope are you using? I ask because those colours you saw may have something to do with your own optics on such a bright object.

Hi

I was using a 90mm Mak (Skywatcher Virtuoso) and i've not seen anything similar on other bright targets so I'm pretty sure the colours were due to atmospheric conditions... But whatever caused it, it looked very cool!! Saw it again last night - also saw Uranus, Neptune, Mars and Jupiter (5 planets all from my living room window!!)

[Ccolvin968]

Not to be rude or a downer, but I'm not so sure you saw Neptune or Uranus out your window. Even under the most perfect conditions Neptune and Uranus would be very difficult to spot with your naked eye, and Mars rises in the east at 3am EST. Jupiter is also rises at 11pm EST. not sure how loosely you're using the term evening. But check your charts again to see if that's what you were seeing. Best of luck.

[AndyWB]

...unless it was using a scope through the window - in which case there's an optical element...

[Ccolvin968]

That was my other concern.

[Gregnat73]

Hi

Just to clear up any confusion, I saw the "rainbow Venus" through an open window and it looked just like the effect in the link in post #4 (caused by the atmospheric dispersion) Uranus and Neptune were viewed through bins (15x50)... I was quite surprised by how far Uranus had moved in the 2 weeks since I'd last seen it!! Mars and Jupiter were seen at 4am the next morning.

Hope that makes sense...