ROSMAN, NC – Astronomers at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute are folloiwng the planet Venus, that brilliant “Evening Star” seen in the southwest, as it appears to be slowly moving higher in the evening skies as it comes around from behind the Sun and approaches the Earth.

Venus will reach that point known as greatest elongation on Wednesday.



The planet Venus is closer to the Sun than is the Earth. Therefore, it moves around the Sun more rapidly and is eternally trying to catch up with the Earth, pass by it on the daytime side and then leave it behind. At some point as it swings out from behind the Sun, Venus will appear to us to be at its greatest angular distance from our central star. Astronomers call this point its greatest elongation. On January 14 Venus will be a full 47 degrees to the east of the Sun. Because of that it will set in the west about three and a half hours after the Sun and we will see it as the “Evening Star” well after sunset.

So go out in the evening after sunset over the next few weeks and observe the queen of the planets. But do it before late March. On March 27 Venus passes between the Earth and Sun (actually passing above the Sun as seen from the Earth). Following this it will reemerge in the morning skies and become our “Morning Star.” Because of relative positions of Venus and the Earth in their respective orbits around the Sun, Venus is always seen either in the west after sunset or in the east before sunrise.

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When they say elongation they don't mean the physical planet is elongating just that the rotation is at its outermost?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

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