Poster Maker: Feng Juan
Recently, in the low sky of the east before dawn, there is an unusually bright star shining brightly, eye-catching, it is the Venus that appears in the posture of "Daystar". "Daystar", meaning, when you see it near the horizon, the sky is about to light.
Liu Chengshan, an astronomy enthusiast in Heilongjiang Province, photographs Venus and the Moon on the morning of December 13, 2020, at the Great Wall of Cuizi Mountain in Liaoning Province. (Courtesy of me)
Astronomical science experts remind that from February to September, Venus as a "day star" can be observed, especially in the recent period of excellent observation, interested public may wish to look up and take a good look at this "big star" in the night sky.
Venus was called "Taibai" in ancient times on the continent. When it appears in the morning, people call it "daystar" or "morning star"; when it appears at dusk, people call it "Chang Gung Star" or "Evening Star".
Beijing astrophotography enthusiast Zong Haiyang photographed the Venus cloud belt and phase changes from January to April 2020 (multiple superpositions). (Courtesy of me)
Xiu Lipeng, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society and an expert in astronomical science, said that among the eight planets in the solar system, Venus is the closest to the earth, and under normal circumstances, it is the brightest celestial body in the whole day except the sun and the moon, and the maximum brightness can reach -4.9 and so on.
Venus meets The Earth every 584 days, during which time Venus will be the brightest twice, and the interval between the two brightest is very short, once after the east distance of Venus and once before the west distance of Venus.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Li Xingru photographs Venus and the Moon in the evening of August 13, 2018. (Courtesy of me)
Xiu Lipeng said that from about April 2021, Venus began to appear gradually in the southwest low sky as a "Chang Gung Star"; on October 30, Venus ushered in the eastern distance, which is a favorable time to watch Venus at dusk; on December 4, Venus ushered in the brightest moment of 2021, with a brightness of -4.9.
From about the beginning of January 2022, Venus will gradually disappear in the night; in late January, Venus will gradually appear as a "rising star"; on February 13, Venus will usher in the brightest moment of 2022, with a brightness of -4.9; on March 20, Venus will usher in the western distance, which is a favorable time to watch Venus in the morning.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Ren Xiaochen photographs Venus and the Moon in Beijing on the evening of December 6, 2021. (Courtesy of me)
"Recently, the brightness of Venus has been very high, above -4.6, in the excellent viewing period, it seems that the 'Daystar' is as bright as a pearl, as brilliant as a jewel." Until around September, the public can observe Venus as a 'daystar'. Although its brightness will change, it will still be bright and eye-catching to the naked eye. Xiu Lipeng said.
Like the moon, Venus has a clear profit and loss. "Interested members of the public who observe Venus through an astronomical telescope for several consecutive days can clearly see that the shape of Venus also has a circular change, sometimes like a curved hook, sometimes like a semicircle." Xiu Lipeng said.
Producer: Hu Qinghai
Planner: Liu Xinhui
Reporter: Zhou Runjian
Editors: Lian Changyan, Tang Jianhui
It was co-produced by Xinhua News Agency and Tianjin Branch of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Starry Sky Studios