↑ Poster Maker: Feng Juan
According to astronomical experts, bright Venus and a crescent moon will meet on August 11 to stage the "Venus and Moon" celestial phenomenon. At that time, if the weather is good, the public in our country can enjoy this romantic "star and moon fairy tale" with the naked eye. With the help of binoculars or small astronomical telescopes, the public can also enjoy the wonderful scene of the "crescent-shaped" Venus dating "crooked moon".
↑Venus cloud bands and phase changes photographed by Beijing astronomy enthusiast Zong Haiyang from January to April 2020 (multiple superimposed images). (Courtesy of me)
Ancient China called Venus "Taibai", and when it appeared in the morning in the faint morning light of the east, it was called "Dawn Star" or "Morning Star"; when it appeared in the sunset in the west in the evening, it was called "Chang Gung Star" or "Evening Star". Venus' apparent brightness can reach -4.9 magnitudes at its brightest, bright as a gemstone.
Zhang Yunxia, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society, introduced that in addition to the sun, under normal circumstances, the apparent brightness of the moon and Venus is the second and third largest natural celestial bodies in the entire sky. When the two are combined, the moon and Venus are visually close, both for viewing and photography are very characteristic of the celestial phenomenon, so it is also recognized by astronomy enthusiasts as the most beautiful scene of the planetary moon "star moon fairy tale".
↑Beijing astronomy enthusiast Wu Luping's "Venus And Moon" photographed on December 13, 2020. (Courtesy of me)
In August, Venus appeared in the western sky as a "Chang Gung Star", with an apparent brightness of -4 and so on, which is very easy to identify.
"On the evening of the 11th, a crescent moon on the fourth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar hung in the low western sky, bending like a boat. Not far to the lower left of the new moon, the bright star is Venus, and the angular distance between the two is about 3 degrees, equivalent to the diameter of six full moons. Since there are no other particularly bright objects around, this picture of stars and moons is very clear. Zhang Yunxia said.
↑ Tianjin astronomy enthusiast Wang Qiang's "Venus And Moon" photographed on January 2, 2019. (Courtesy of me)
Venus is an inner planet, and like the Moon, it also has periodic changes in the circle (phase change), but because Venus is far from the Earth, it is impossible to see with the naked eye, and it needs to be observed with the help of binoculars or small astronomical telescopes.
↑Venus (in the shape of a "small crescent") photographed by Beijing astronomy enthusiast Wang Junfeng on May 24, 2020. (Courtesy of me)
"In the field of view of the telescope, Venus is like a small moon, shining and loving." Zhang Yunxia said.
Since July this year, Venus has begun to appear as a "late star" in the western low sky after sunset, and the horizon altitude at sunset has risen day by day, and the observation conditions have improved. From August to September, The apparent brightness of Venus can reach magnitude -4. On October 30, Venus ushered in the eastern distance, and at sunset it is located in the southwest sky, with an apparent brightness of -4.6 magnitude. On December 4, Venus will usher in its brightest moment.
↑Venus taken by Guangdong province astronomy enthusiast Zhou Zhiwei in Zhuhai city on August 7, 2020 (image synthesized from the ultraviolet and infrared bands of Venus). (Courtesy of me)
"From now until the end of the year, it is a good time to observe Venus, and interested members of the public can choose to observe or take pictures in open areas that are not obscured by tall buildings." Zhang Yunxia said.
Producer: Zhao Cheng
Producer: Hu Qinghai
Planner: Liu Xinhui
Text: Zhou Runjian
It was jointly produced by Xinhua News Agency and Tianjin Branch of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Starry Sky Studios
Source: Xinhua News Agency