We just talked about the comet that hasn’t entered Earth’s atmosphere since ancient Egyptian times, but yet another noteworthy celestial event is taking place this month. On the night of April 27, Venus will reach its brightest point of the year — and it’ll be visible to the naked eye above Arizona. Keep your eyes peeled!
Venus, Earth’s “sister planet,” is the second-brightest object in the night sky – right after the Sun and Moon.
Wikipedia/Brocken Inaglory Venus is so bright, in fact, that it is sometimes visible to the naked eye in broad daylight.
Venus is similar to the Earth in many aspects: the two are of comparable size, mass, proximity to the Sun, and bulk composition.
Wikipedia/NASA/Apollo 17 crew In other ways, it couldn’t be more different from our home planet – Venus has an atmosphere of over 96% carbon dioxide, pressure 92 times that of Earth, and has an average surface temperature of about 863 degrees Fahrenheit.
Desert covers much of Venus’ surface, with slab-like rocks dotting the landscape every so often.
Wikipedia - NASA/JPL There is evidence to suggest volcanic activity is currently present, a phenomenon that occurs periodically.
However, surprisingly to experts, Venus has a much weaker magnetic field than Earth.
Wikipedia - NASA, Vzb83~commonswiki This has led to three possible conclusions about the planet’s core: it isn’t solid at all, the entire liquid portion is all one temperature due to lack of cooling, or it has completely solidified. What a fascinating, yet volatile, celestial body.
At 9 p.m. Eastern Time on April 27, Venus will shine brighter than at any other point during the year.
Flickr/ryanwick No special equipment is necessary to see it, but a telescope or binoculars certainly enhance the view.
If you do have access to a telescope, you can actually observe Venus changing phases like the moon.
Wikipedia/Statis Kalyvas Due to its positioning relative to Earth and the Sun, the planet appears brightest during the crescent phase (or about 25% illuminated).
If you miss the spectacle this time, don’t fret – you’ll have another chance in a few months.
Flickr/European Southern Observatory On July 10, Venus will once again shine at nearly its brightest potential just before sunrise.
Click here to learn more about this yearly spectacle. Have you ever witnessed Venus at its brightest? If so, will you catch another glimpse this time around? Let us know, and check out our previous article to see where you can enjoy the Arizona night sky year-round: This Remote Little Town In Arizona Is One Of The Darkest Places In The Nation.
Wikipedia/Brocken Inaglory
Venus is so bright, in fact, that it is sometimes visible to the naked eye in broad daylight.
Wikipedia/NASA/Apollo 17 crew
In other ways, it couldn’t be more different from our home planet – Venus has an atmosphere of over 96% carbon dioxide, pressure 92 times that of Earth, and has an average surface temperature of about 863 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wikipedia - NASA/JPL
There is evidence to suggest volcanic activity is currently present, a phenomenon that occurs periodically.
Wikipedia - NASA, Vzb83~commonswiki
This has led to three possible conclusions about the planet’s core: it isn’t solid at all, the entire liquid portion is all one temperature due to lack of cooling, or it has completely solidified. What a fascinating, yet volatile, celestial body.
Flickr/ryanwick
No special equipment is necessary to see it, but a telescope or binoculars certainly enhance the view.
Wikipedia/Statis Kalyvas
Due to its positioning relative to Earth and the Sun, the planet appears brightest during the crescent phase (or about 25% illuminated).
Flickr/European Southern Observatory
On July 10, Venus will once again shine at nearly its brightest potential just before sunrise.
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