Daytime Venus
November 13, 2023
Photographer: Meiying Lee
Summary Author: Meiying Lee
Only the Sun and Moon are brighter than Venus. It’s so bright (magnitude of-4.6 at its brightest) that unlike the stars, Venus can be observed while the Sun is still in the sky. The key is knowing just where to look, which is pretty close to the Sun itself. So, extreme caution must be used when trying to observe our “sister” planet.
In this composite image (beginning in late July of 2023), you can see its bright white appearance against the blue sky. After mid-August, Venus passed between the Sun and Earth, becoming the “morning star.” Despite its proximity to the Sun, you can still spot its slender crescent form. When the Sun rises and the sky brightens, you can still catch a glimpse of it before it merges with the sky. Even thin clouds can't hide it. Before sunrise, when the sky is filled with crimson hues, Venus, resembling a small crescent, appearing even more enchanting.
The dispersion phenomenon formed by celestial bodies passing through Earth’s atmosphere is usually more easily observed with the Sun and the Moon. However, you can also observe it with Venus. Click here to see a video showing this. With all its beautiful facets, it suddenly becomes clearer why Venus represents "beauty" in Western mythology!
Photo details: Shooting times from left to right and from top to bottom are July 21 at 6:15 p.m. August 20 at 5:15 a.m., August 22 at 5:45 a.m., August 22 at 5:26 a.m., August 25 at 5:18 a.m., and August 22 at 5:16 a.m. (all local Taiwan Time).
Taipei, Taiwan Coordinates: 25.0330, 121.5654
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