VENUS VIEWED FROM EARTH


Image Credits: NASA/JPL Solar System Simulator developed by: David Seal

FOV:  98°      Magnification:  0.31x (shows entire orbit)      Inner Planet Orbits      Greatest Elongation 2024      Skypath 2024

L O A D I N G 

  Note: 1)  from Earth, Venus's orbit appears "edge-on" in early June and early December;
      2)  from Earth, Venus's orbit stretches rouughly 1/4 of the way around our sky.

FOV:  30°       Magnification:  1x (naked eye)       Location in Constellations

 

FOV:  2' (arc-min)       Magnification:  900x       Compare Current Planets

L O A D I N G 

Venus can appear larger in our skies than any other planet!  And yet—when it looks largest—it has an "apparent" diameter which is only about 1/30th (one thirtieth) of those of the Sun and Moon!  In addition, Venus—more than any other major planet except Mars—varies in how large it looks to us here on Earth.  When Venus is closest to Earth and appears largest, its diameter will largely fill the above 900x (nine-hundred power) view from top to bottom.  However, when Venus is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth and appears smallest, its diameter will shrink to roughly 1/7 that size!

 

FOV and Magnification vary so Venus fills image

Because Venus is one of the two Inferior Planets—that is, like Mercury its orbit is smaller than Earth's—the following image will help you relate its current phase to its position in orbit.

In 1610, Galileo Galilei was among the first persons ever to view the phases of Venus, and he is credited as the first person to ever record them.  Check out  Galileo's own sketches of the phases of Venus. 

Bonus: Venus's Current Position Over Earth

This bonus view is provided so you can determine if Venus currently may be visible from your location on Earth.  Moreover, because it is so bright (the brightest planet in our skies),  at times Venus can be seen in broad daylight!  With clear skies it is fairly easy to find if you know where to look for it, and the view above lets you infer its di- rection from your location.  If your location is visible on the above globe, then the closer it is to the view's center, the higher Venus will be in "your" sky.  Likewise, the closer your location is to the edge of the above globe, then the closer Venus will be to your horizon.  And don't forget—Earth rotates to the east (left to right in the image above).  So, generally, (in all places except the polar regions), Venus is currently rising at the "left edge" of Earth, and setting at its "right edge".  Generally Venus is most easily seen when it is near or at  Greatest Elongation, because that is when it appears fathest from the Sun's brilliance, and it is actually not difficult to spot in a clear sky.  Even so, not many persons have ever seen Venus during the day; so if you do, you're one of the few!

Simulator Image Notes:  1) Fields of View are measured horizontally.  2) Top orbital view orientation: Sun's local north "upward", i.e. in
the 12:00 midnight direction.  3) Second orbital view orientation: Ecliptic north "upward".  4) Venus's "surface" (cloud-top) views' orientation: planetary local north "upward".  5) Light-Travel Time is not included in calculated times.

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