May is prime time for viewing Venus
Earth's twisted sister planet
Date published: 5/3/2007
LET'S TAKE A TRIP to Venus, a place where global warming has gone wild.
This month provides a prime opportunity to get acquainted with the planet. For stargazers in the Fredericksburg area, Venus is favorably placed in the western sky after sunset during the entire month.
Venus, sometimes referred to as Earth's sister planet, is similar in size and density, but that is where the similarity ends. Venus has intense heat, with temperatures in the 900-degree range. Its cloud-shrouded atmosphere creates an extreme greenhouse effect.
Venus also possesses crushing surface pressures and a slow rotation that is opposite to that of Earth. This opposite rotation means that, if you were able to stand on Venus' surface, the sun would rise in the west and set in the east.
A "day" on Venus is about 117 Earth days long. With all that time to spare on Venus, there would be no excuse to not get things done in one day. There is no doubt that Venus puts a different twist on things from our perspective.
Venus is the brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon. Since its orbit lies inside Earth's orbit, it always stays fairly close to the sun, in the evening sky after sunset or in the morning sky just before sunrise. For this reason, it is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "evening star" or "morning star."
Because of its brilliance, it is sometimes mistaken for a UFO. Venus can never be seen in the midnight sky because of its orbit between the Earth and sun.
This month, Venus is the unmistakable "jewel" in the Fredericksburg area's west-northwestern evening sky, an hour or so after sunset. The moon can act as a direct guide to finding Venus, as it accompanies the planet for a spectacular pairing on May 19.
The moon will be a bit farther from Venus on May 20, but the pair will still be worth the view. Once you identify Venus with the moon, you will never have a problem spotting the planet again.
If you want to learn about a current space mission to Venus, check out www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus _Express.
You also can use the moon to find a few other planets this month.
On May 5, the moon will be just below the planet Jupiter in the early morning sky. On the morning of May 12, look for Mars to the lower left of the moon. On May 22, the moon will be near the planet Saturn in the evening sky.
Get out and enjoy these warmer spring nights with Venus as your starting inspiration. Happy May stargazing!
David Abbou is a resident of Stafford County. He has been an amateur astronomer for more than 30 years and is a member of the Rappahannock Astronomy Club. Send questions or suggestions for future columns to david.
Email: abbou@verizon.net.
Date published: 5/3/2007
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