Andrew Yee[_1_]
April 11th 07, 05:57 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
11 April 2007
Venus and Pleiades unite for celebration!
Venus Express, Europe's first mission to Venus, has now successfully orbited
our closest neighbour 355 times during the past year. Coincidentally on its
first anniversary on 11 April, Venus and the constellation Pleiades are very
close in the sky, for your viewing pleasure.
The celestial spectacle is clearly visible with the naked eye -- provided
that there are no clouds to cover it. Venus and Pleiades can be seen drawing
closer together in the western sky; after sunset and before midnight. The
planet and the star cluster will be close enough to fit behind an upturned
thumb held at arm's length.
Although the time of closest approach as seen from Earth is during the early
morning hours of April 12, it will not be visible then since Venus sets at
midnight. Given that there is currently no moon in the evening hours, the
uncommon occurrence will be even more obvious.
Venus and the Pleiades form a peculiar couple. Venus is extravagantly bright
surrounded by a thick atmosphere reflecting 70 percent of all received
light. The Pleiades however are dim and slight, since the young and not yet
completely formed cluster is 400 light years away. These opposite
characteristics offer a pretty view for star-gazers as well as photographers
and astronomers.
Thanks to its intense reflection, Venus is the brightest planet within the
solar system making it fairly easy to distinguish the ensemble as it
outshines all stars and planets in the evening sky.
Take a look and raise a toast to Venus Express' first anniversary!
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM2LHLJC0F_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
11 April 2007
Venus and Pleiades unite for celebration!
Venus Express, Europe's first mission to Venus, has now successfully orbited
our closest neighbour 355 times during the past year. Coincidentally on its
first anniversary on 11 April, Venus and the constellation Pleiades are very
close in the sky, for your viewing pleasure.
The celestial spectacle is clearly visible with the naked eye -- provided
that there are no clouds to cover it. Venus and Pleiades can be seen drawing
closer together in the western sky; after sunset and before midnight. The
planet and the star cluster will be close enough to fit behind an upturned
thumb held at arm's length.
Although the time of closest approach as seen from Earth is during the early
morning hours of April 12, it will not be visible then since Venus sets at
midnight. Given that there is currently no moon in the evening hours, the
uncommon occurrence will be even more obvious.
Venus and the Pleiades form a peculiar couple. Venus is extravagantly bright
surrounded by a thick atmosphere reflecting 70 percent of all received
light. The Pleiades however are dim and slight, since the young and not yet
completely formed cluster is 400 light years away. These opposite
characteristics offer a pretty view for star-gazers as well as photographers
and astronomers.
Thanks to its intense reflection, Venus is the brightest planet within the
solar system making it fairly easy to distinguish the ensemble as it
outshines all stars and planets in the evening sky.
Take a look and raise a toast to Venus Express' first anniversary!
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM2LHLJC0F_index_1.html ]