Ultra slim Venus in daylight

[kerrylewis]

I just waited for the sun to be safely behind the house and found Venus through the Tak

What a beautiful sight! The ultra slim and fragile crescent hanging against a lovely blue sky. Perhaps the last look at what has been a great showing

 

Edited May 30, 2020 by kerrylewis

[Stu]

14 minutes ago, kerrylewis said:

I just waited for the sun to be safely behind the house and found Venus through the Tak

What a beautiful sight! The ultra slim and fragile crescent hanging against a lovely blue sky. Perhaps the last look at what has been a great showing

 

Nice one Kerry! Might try this myself. Did you use Goto or sweep for it in the scope?

[kerrylewis]

I used goto Stu. Focussing was the 'finding' bit!

 

[Stu]

1 minute ago, kerrylewis said:

I used goto Stu. Focussing was the 'finding' bit!

 

Ah. Might struggle a bit then but will give it a go.

[kerrylewis]

I had the scope set up and aligned from this morning's session with Jupiter and Saturn - so I cheated a bit 😀

[markse68]

Can’t you get alignment off the moon with an alt az mount and SS Stu?  Ive been doing this each evening with the telementor setting circles and finding Venus first time every time- it’s so low now though that I don’t get much time before it disappears behind Canary Wharf

[Stu]

1 minute ago, markse68 said:

Can’t you get alignment off the moon with an alt az mount and SS Stu?  Ive been doing this each evening with the telementor setting circles and finding Venus first time every time- it’s so low now though that I don’t get much time before it disappears behind Canary Wharf

Perhaps I could, but Mrs Stu has me working in the garden with occasional time off for good behaviour to look at the Sun. Don’t think I would survive setting up the Nexus etc. 🤣🤣

[John]

I've said "bye bye" to Venus for this apparition now.

I got it down to 1.3% illuminated which beats what I managed last time around so I'm happy

 

[Mark at Beaufort]

That is very good Kerry. I sometimes wish I had a small goto mount for this type of occasion. I don't fancy trying to guess the position of Venus with the 6" Newt although I could attempt the setting circles on my Heritage 130P.

[Stu]

Might try it just as the sun drops below the roof tops but discretion may be the more sensible and safe option!!

[kerrylewis]

According to my notes, on January 11th 2014 I actually observed Venus at inferior conjunction. It was 5 degrees north of the sun and according to Sky Safari only 0.4% illuminated!

 

 

[Mark at Beaufort]

Well i checked the alt/az of the Sun which at 4pm was approx 244 degree Az and 45 degree Alt and set the setting circles with the Sun in the centre of the eyepiece. I then went to Venus which was 238 degrees Az and 50 degrees Alt. 

I then removed the solar filter and replaced it straight away - the Sun appeared to be still slightly shining into the objective. I never took the risk.

I might try this again to view Venus or Mercury in daylight but not so close to the Sun.

[kerrylewis]

Very wise Mark. I can be a bit careless with things but NEVER with the sun. I always physically block it, behind the house for example, before attempting any observation that is close. 

[mikeDnight]

You're an inspiration Kerry. I'd all but given up on Venus, but tonight as the Sun drifted behind the trees, I made a quick sweep with my GP mount and FC100DZ and picked up the razor thin crescent against a pale, almost white sky background. At 235X in my 3.4mm HR the crescent at first appeared to be quite short, but in reality it was so thin that it extended around the globe like a 'C'.  I only managed around 8 minutes of viewing before Venus followed the Sun behind the trees. (No goto was used!😅) I observed it from 18.19 to 18.28 UT on the 31/5/2020. Do I win a prize? 😆

Edited June 1, 2020 by mikeDnight

[paulastro]

Certainly not for modesty Mike! 🤭

[Alan White]

It has been a very fine showing by Venus, I have loved the whole experience.
After years of trying and looking in awe at Mikes sketches and observing, followed suit and seen detail.
After all this trying I am now observing clouds on another planet, who would think that would fill an Astronomer with joy.

As to the thin crescent in daylight,
sadly without goto its a no go for me and later I have trees to the SW and W that will block my view now.

Edited June 1, 2020 by Alan White

[mikeDnight]

Here's an image paulastro found on space weather that confirms the accuracy of the sketch above.

Edited June 2, 2020 by mikeDnight

[paulastro]

And here's the fuller version from the website Mike.

INFERIOR CONJUNCTION OF VENUS: Tomorrow, June 3rd, Venus will pass almost directly between the Earth and the sun. This is having a strange effect on the planet's shape. "It is like a ring of fire," says Didier Favre, who sends this picture from Brétigny-sur-Orge, France:

When Favre took the picture on June 1st, the sun was only 2 degrees from Venus–hence the blue sky. "It was not an easy picture to take," says Favre, "but what a beautiful view!"

Why does Venus look like a ring? Simple: The planet's nightside is facing Earth. Sunlight filtering through the edge of Venus’s carbon dioxide atmosphere forms a luminous ring around the dark disk.

Astronomers call this an "inferior conjunction of Venus," and it's one of the best in decades. At closest approach on June 3rd, Venus will be 29 arcminutes (about half a degree) from the center of the solar disk. Only twice since 1961 has Venus come closer–during the famous Venus Transits of 2004 and 2012 [ref].

Observing Venus at this time is dangerous. With the sun just a fraction of a degree away, it is easy for stray sunlight to sneak into optical systems, damaging sensitive electronics and hurting human eyes. Only skilled observers taking careful precautions should attempt it.