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                        GENERAL ARTICLES
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                  The phases of Venus
                  By Michiel van der Vlist, 2:280/55555


If you have a small telescope, the coming days and weeks are a good
time to take a closer look at Venus. Venus is easely visible in the
South West from just after sunset untill about midnight. It is the
brightest celestial object in the evening sky apart from the moon.

Venus is the second planet in our solar system. It is one of the two
zo called inner planets. Its orbit lies between that of the earth
and the sun. The other inner planet is Mercury.

On the 4th of June Venus will reach its maximum western elongation,
meaning its apparent distance to the sun is at maximum. It will then
move into the direction of the sun until inferior conjunction on the
13th of August when it is more or less in front of the sun.

In the mean time the physical distance between Venus and Earth will
decrease, Venus comes closer to earth and so it will look bigger in
the telescope. More interesting, its phase will becomme more
prominent. Like the moon, Venus shows phases. At maxumum elongation
it will be "half Venus". When Venus moves towards earth and moves
toward inferior conjunction, it will turn into a crescent before
disappearing althogether.

The coming weeks this may be interesting to watch with a small
telescope. In the later phase, it may even be visible with a good
pair of binoculars. Enjoy!


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