June Moon & Venus

At left is a scale representation of what you will see looking West after Sunset, if sky is clear, on June 15, 16, & 17.  Moon noticeably appears to move through the sky daily, while Venus barely seems to move against the background sky.

June 15th to 17th, the Crescent Moon & Venus put on a spectacular display in the western evening sky just after Sunset.  Moon & Venus are consistently the 1st & 2nd brightest natural night sky celestual objects.  Each are bright enough to be seen from an urban light polluted sky.  They will show a somewhat similar display monthly through October.  The next similar apparition will be July 13 to 16.  No optics (binocular or telescope) are needed to view this sensational apparition.  However, binoculars will show exquite detail on the Moon & possibly the Gibbous Disk (apparent shape) of Venus, particularly if you have premium optics & excellent eyesight.  Even a small telescope will show the visual shape of Venus.  Venus displays an evening phasing about each 19 months, lasting almost 10 months, similar to the Moon's monthly phasing, because it's orbit is within Earth's orbit around the Sun.

At left is a telescopic image of what Venus will look like at about 100 power on June 15 > 17.

Because of its interior (to Earth) orbit, Venus is denominated, like Mercury, an "inferior" planet.  Venus, Mercury, & Mars are also called "Terrestrial" planets, because they resemble Earth more than Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune.

Venus is so bright, magnitude -3.8 to -4.6, it can cast a shadow in a dark location.  Venus is never more than 47.8 degrees, for us in Amherst, from the Sun, usually much closer; so it is never seen in the dark midnight sky.  By us, Venus is always seen in the lovely twilite glow before Sunrise or after Sunset.  To see this spectacular June apparition, look West at Sunset.  Venus will be about 20 degrees above the Horizon.  You may need an unobstructed Horizon - free of trees, buildings, hills, or other obstructions.  Venus will set about 2 & 1/2 hrs. after the Sun.

For those who want to see this sight in a telescope, you can call me - Tom Whitney at 256-6234, after 6 p.m. on June 15, 16, & 17.  If it's clear, I'll meet you at Mt. Pollux, with a telescope around 8 p.m.  The next Evening apparitions of Moon & Venus, that will somewhat approximate these current ones, will be between December 2011 & March 2012 - cold & unpleasant New England weather, with Moon & Venus much lower in the sky.  The next set of apparitions, that will be as "good" as these current ones, will be in 2018.  Try to see this, if your schedule & the weather permit.

- Tom Whitney