Article by Dr. Tony Phillips (USA)
February 26, 2009:
Please be careful as this may cause an accident.
On Friday night, February 27th, the 10% crescent moon will glide by Venus, forming a gorgeous and enchanting set of lights in the sunset sky. Although the conjunction of the Moon and Venus is not uncommon, this conjunction has some special qualities.
(1) Venus is at its brightest: magnitude -4.6. The planet is 20 times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. It’s so bright that it can actually shine through thin clouds and cast subtle shadows on the ground.
Right: The conjunction of the Moon and Venus in December 2008, photographed by Tamas Radany of Mönigkirchen, Austria. This month’s conjunctions will be even tighter and brighter.
(2) As seen from North America, the Moon and Venus are less than 1o apart. Hold your thumbs up and extend them out at arm’s length. Venus and the Moon fit perfectly on the back of your thumb. Tight conjunctions like this are the most beautiful of all.
(3) Not only is the moon a crescent, but so is Venus. If you point a small telescope at the glowing planet, you’ll see a narrow disk that’s 20% illuminated.
All of this adds up to a huge distraction. Evening drivers should pull over to the side of the road. Staring at Venus or the moon can be more dangerous than sending a text message.
Venus is a crescent moon because it has phases just like the moon. The Earth can be full, huge, new, or anything in between. The percentage of illumination we see on any given day is determined by how far Venus’s night side faces toward Earth.
It may seem strange that Venus is at its brightest when it is a crescent. This overturns our common sense that the moon is brightest when it’s full. A 6-month animated mystery of Venus created by Hong Kong astrophotographer Wah! At a glance: For more information, visit http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/26feb_prettysky.htm?list1308531 Please refer.
Venus’s crescent phase occurs when Venus is close to Earth and very large and bright. Venus phases, on the other hand, occur when Venus is opposite the Sun, far away, and relatively dim.
The crescent moon Venus is so bright that it can be seen even in broad daylight. Look for a crescent moon in the sky during the day on Friday. Tip: Stand in the shadow of a tall building to avoid sun glare. At noon, the moon is directly east of the sun’s position. Understood? If you look around the moon from a distance about the width of your thumb, Venus will suddenly appear. Planets are surprisingly easy to see if you know where to look.
Once you’ve located Venus during the day, you may want to examine it with binoculars or a telescope. Please stop. A nearby sun can damage your eyes if you accidentally point your optics in that direction.
Wait until the sun goes down to see this pair, edged in deep twilight blue, first with the naked eye and then through a small telescope. The moon shows mountains, craters, and a vast nighttime lunar landscape gently illuminated by Earthshine. Venus will have a delicate little crescent of impenetrable clouds. A good way to end the day.
Source: Saptarishis Astrology – saptarishisshop.com
