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Observing Venus.


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I would like to know if there is a website that shows the current phases of Venus. 

Last night I setup my refractor to observe Venus. The planet was quite low. The view showed lots of scattered light. I think that the disc was approx three quarters phase. It was differcult to resolve. Is this normal? 

Thanks. 

Martin

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6 hours ago, Grumpy Martian said:

It was differcult to resolve. Is this normal?

The fuller the phase, the more difficult I've found to observe Venus clearly. (This is just relating my experience, not explaining anything... :rolleyes2:).

I've always been able to get a nice crescent phase to give a decent image. Never any real planetary detail, though - but don't give up on my account. :happy11:

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29 minutes ago, iPeace said:

The fuller the phase, the more difficult I've found to observe Venus clearly. (This is just relating my experience, not explaining anything... :rolleyes2:).

I've always been able to get a nice crescent phase to give a decent image. Never any real planetary detail, though - but don't give up on my account. :happy11:

I tend to agree with that, no idea why as it is actually brighter when it is a crescent.

This is my best smartphone shot of Venus. I've never seen any surface detail on it at all, although others have successfully. Looks like it will be showing a crescent phase in late April/early May next year.

IMG_9512.JPG.055bf5ecd7a68bb424d378bf86387d5e.jpeg

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I tried Venus a few days ago after dark for the first time in a while and it was a mushy flaring blob. I was a bit disappointed but am relieved to read that it's not just me seeing this!

My best views previously have been in daylight.

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It was a pleasure to view during the day after my solar session early in the afternoon. 

Edit: To be clear, I used my goto scope to achieve this and left the Herschel wedge fitted until I was sure that the sun was not still in the FOV before swapping the wedge for the star diagonal.

The phase was lovely and clear, though I tried again later and found it much more difficult to get a pleasing view after sunset. 

Edited by AdeKing
Added details after reading Ibbo's post below.
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I tried Venus two evenings ago and had a lot of difficulty as well.

Low on the horizon and unbelievably brilliant.

I have only some basic filters. What would be the best when trying to image Venus? Everything I've done so far is very poor.

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I'm not sure as regards imaging, but visually Wrattan 11 (yellow) is popular. I've found that blue 80A works well too. Something I have noticed several times in the past, is that filters somehow seem to reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence. (Not sure why that would be). I generally try to observe Venus while its still set against a blue sky. Once the sky creates a dark background the planet can be difficult. Also, the higher the better, as when close to the horizon you're looking through miles of turbulent atmosphere, making it a difficult target at any phase.

As Venus approaches us and the phase becomes a thinner and thinner crescent, its challenging but great fun to try and follow it until its as close to new as possible. 

58c97d6784afa_2017-03-0814_25_48.jpg.b45d043895460d0bcc2b0ee47c152f38.jpg.4ddc907669c0fe642e3c021e35973075.jpg58c97da3c1fc0_2017-03-0814_28_33.jpg.d6ecd85fd35cd9fca93b874cafe81075.jpg.46555b964580dbe62386d8a650418954.jpg58d45cdc738d8_2017-03-2323_11_15.jpg.03fe2ee771b3338a514e261e0e3fcd8a.thumb.jpg.ecc20614b18db10ed0dd5e8fee692e95.jpg

 

Edited by mikeDnight
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You of course have to be very careful doing this while the sun is above the horizon,.

I have a fixed setup so I can use goto but even so I always check the sun is not in the FOV while doing this using a solar filter and a the camera.

NO HUNTING BE VERY CAREFUL.

another trick is to use a wall to block the sun

 

I managed this run in March 2017.

FS 102 and Blacfly cam

 

Venus-March-2017.thumb.png.4cdffcc97872a4c512c9dbf8feb7d5e6.png

And this in 2018

WO 132 and Chameleon cam

Venus-Oct-2018.png.aacd2162581636747c6b681cccb83983.png

This year I would like to get venus over a longer period of time and with more f/l.

I also have another filter on the way.

 

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