sagan|sense (thephysicalisanillusion: the-star-stuff: Venus...)

This [space] serves as an ongoing dedication to the late Carl Sagan. I will frequently update this page with all things Sagan, science & cosmos-related, in support of scientific literacy & understanding amongst the ever-increasing hominid population on our organic spaceship, Earth.

Keep looking up & remember: we are all star stuff, contemplating the stars, as our origins exist within the cosmos.

May this page bring you closer to your own individual enlightenment, further your knowledge of the universe & allow you to achieve wisdom & connectivity toward all living things for which we all share the same biological, chemical & atomic makeup.

be skeptical. ask questions :) post it forward.

Photo 103
Notes

thephysicalisanillusion:

the-star-stuff:

Venus rounds the corner

If you’ve been outside after sunset the past few weeks, there’s not much chance you’ve missed Venus shining like a laser in the west.

Right now, Venus is just “rounding the corner” of its orbit; the past few weeks it’s been heading away from the Sun from our viewpoint, and very soon will reach its greatest elongation in the sky from the Sun. At that point, every day will see Venus get a bit closer. Right now, Venus is very close to being half full.

“Amateur” astronomer Emil Kraaikamp observed Venus on March 15, and took this very nice shot of it.

Venus is shrouded in clouds, making it relatively featureless when you look at it through a telescope. However, if you use a filter that lets in ultraviolet light, some faint and subtle features in the clouds can be seen. Emil’s picture did just that, using a UV filter plus one each of red, green, and blue to get a true color plus UV picture. The phase of the planet is obvious enough, and you can also spot some of the patterns to the clouds, too.

Image credit: Emil Kraaikamp

(via myheadisweak)

#science #astronomy #venus