Post by P(D)enny La(i)ne on Sept 12, 2008 11:45:28 GMT -5
Venus and Mars Conjunction
The above photo is the conjunction of Venus and Mars on 12 September 2008, as seen from Sydney Observatory, image Nick Lomb.
Since the beginning of September there have been some interesting maneuvers between the three planets Venus, Mercury and Mars plus on occasion the crescent Moon. Tonight 12 September 2008 there was a close conjunction between Venus and Mars. The separation between the planets was less than half a degree or less than the width of the full Moon. With such a small separation Mars was not easy to see, especially as it is much fainter than bright Venus. Averted vision, that is not looking directly at either of the two close planets, helped to bring Mars into focus.
It should be said that the two planets may appear close together in the sky, but that is only a line of sight effect. In actual distance they are far apart as Venus is much closer to the Earth than Mars.
The conjunction of Venus and Mars 12 September 2008 as predicted in the 2008 Australian Sky Guide
This conjunction was an opportunity to check out the planet diagrams that are in the 2008 Australian Sky Guide. As can be seen by comparing the two images above, the diagram pleasingly matches the actual positions of Venus, Mars, Mercury and the bright star Spica. Of course, it is not possible to indicate the relative brightness of the planets on a simple diagram.
Over the next few nights there will be other interesting planetary configurations as Venus and Mars pull apart. Keep watching!
www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/blog/?p=1194
The above photo is the conjunction of Venus and Mars on 12 September 2008, as seen from Sydney Observatory, image Nick Lomb.
Since the beginning of September there have been some interesting maneuvers between the three planets Venus, Mercury and Mars plus on occasion the crescent Moon. Tonight 12 September 2008 there was a close conjunction between Venus and Mars. The separation between the planets was less than half a degree or less than the width of the full Moon. With such a small separation Mars was not easy to see, especially as it is much fainter than bright Venus. Averted vision, that is not looking directly at either of the two close planets, helped to bring Mars into focus.
It should be said that the two planets may appear close together in the sky, but that is only a line of sight effect. In actual distance they are far apart as Venus is much closer to the Earth than Mars.
The conjunction of Venus and Mars 12 September 2008 as predicted in the 2008 Australian Sky Guide
This conjunction was an opportunity to check out the planet diagrams that are in the 2008 Australian Sky Guide. As can be seen by comparing the two images above, the diagram pleasingly matches the actual positions of Venus, Mars, Mercury and the bright star Spica. Of course, it is not possible to indicate the relative brightness of the planets on a simple diagram.
Over the next few nights there will be other interesting planetary configurations as Venus and Mars pull apart. Keep watching!
www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/blog/?p=1194
