Comments on: Venus is really bright, but what if. . . http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/ Clouds and cosmos: the atmosphere and beyond! Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:17:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Larry Sessions http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-195 Larry Sessions Tue, 29 May 2007 05:39:02 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-195 jk, To answer this fully, since the sky changes, I need to know when you are observing this star. However, I will make the obvious assumption that you mean in the early evening. I am as sure as I can be that it is Venus you are seeing. Technically, it is the in northwest sky, starting almost due west for the Vancouver area at sunset, and moving farther to the northwest as the night wears on. Right now, it should be setting at about 11:40 p.m., PDT. If you are seeing this at other times or in other places, it is something else, but I suspect highly that it is Venus. You also should be able to see Jupiter as a bright "star" in the southeaswt sky at this time. It is in a darker part of the sky, but in fact is not nearly so bright as Venus. I hope this helps, and don't hesitate to post other questions or email me directly (starman@starportal.net). Larry Sessions Denver jk,

To answer this fully, since the sky changes, I need to know when you are observing this star. However, I will make the obvious assumption that you mean in the early evening. I am as sure as I can be that it is Venus you are seeing. Technically, it is the in northwest sky, starting almost due west for the Vancouver area at sunset, and moving farther to the northwest as the night wears on. Right now, it should be setting at about 11:40 p.m., PDT. If you are seeing this at other times or in other places, it is something else, but I suspect highly that it is Venus. You also should be able to see Jupiter as a bright “star” in the southeaswt sky at this time. It is in a darker part of the sky, but in fact is not nearly so bright as Venus.

I hope this helps, and don’t hesitate to post other questions or email me directly (starman@starportal.net).

Larry Sessions
Denver

]]> By: jk http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-194 jk Tue, 29 May 2007 05:27:46 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-194 This question is sort of unrelated, but I think you would know. I live in Southern British Columbia, outside of Vancouver. I can see a very bright "star" in the Northern part of my sky. Is it Venus? It's much brighter than any stars I see. PS I'm a science teacher and I love to tell my students things that they can go and look at outside. This question is sort of unrelated, but I think you would know.

I live in Southern British Columbia, outside of Vancouver.

I can see a very bright “star” in the Northern part of my sky. Is it Venus? It’s much brighter than any stars I see.

PS I’m a science teacher and I love to tell my students things that they can go and look at outside.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-175 Larry Sessions Thu, 24 May 2007 12:50:35 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-175 Hi, Ray. Dr. Clarke has not been terribly well for a while, and I don't think he is still writing, or certainly not much. "2061" was 20 years ago, and he has done some things since then, including some collaborative efforts, but I don't think he is too active anymore. Too bad, because he truly is, in my opinion, the best science-oriented science fiction writer ever. Or may be I should add "at least for his time" because I frankly don't read much science fiction, and I know there are some very good recent writers as well. As as for communications satellites, you can find his original technical paper online somewhere, I think. LS Hi, Ray. Dr. Clarke has not been terribly well for a while, and I don’t think he is still writing, or certainly not much. “2061″ was 20 years ago, and he has done some things since then, including some collaborative efforts, but I don’t think he is too active anymore. Too bad, because he truly is, in my opinion, the best science-oriented science fiction writer ever. Or may be I should add “at least for his time” because I frankly don’t read much science fiction, and I know there are some very good recent writers as well.

As as for communications satellites, you can find his original technical paper online somewhere, I think.

LS

]]> By: Ray Cobb http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-174 Ray Cobb Thu, 24 May 2007 12:07:58 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-174 Larry, your scenarios are great! Thanks for that. Gosh, Arthur C. Clarke!! I'll have to get that book. I didn't even know that he was still writing. Since I work with geosynchronous satellites as part of my job, I know of him also as the one who conceived the idea of satellites that appear to stand still in space. The name, "Clarke Belt," for this orbital altitude, immortalizes him. His only reward for the idea, I believe. Ray Larry, your scenarios are great! Thanks for that.

Gosh, Arthur C. Clarke!! I’ll have to get that book. I didn’t even know that he was still writing.
Since I work with geosynchronous satellites as part of my job, I know of him also as the one who conceived the idea of satellites that appear to stand still in space. The name, “Clarke Belt,” for this orbital altitude, immortalizes him. His only reward for the idea, I believe.

Ray

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-142 Larry Sessions Wed, 23 May 2007 14:52:18 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-142 In 1986 I was a staff astronomer on a cruise in the Indian Ocean (Society Expeditions) to see Halley's Comet. We stopped off a day in Colombo, Sri Lanka and I spent the afternoon and evening with Dr. Clarke. He was working on 2061 at the time, as I recall. Several months later he contacted me for some information about the Comet, and gratiously acknowledged me in the book. We have corresponded occasionally since then, although not recently. In 1986 I was a staff astronomer on a cruise in the Indian Ocean (Society Expeditions) to see Halley’s Comet. We stopped off a day in Colombo, Sri Lanka and I spent the afternoon and evening with Dr. Clarke. He was working on 2061 at the time, as I recall. Several months later he contacted me for some information about the Comet, and gratiously acknowledged me in the book. We have corresponded occasionally since then, although not recently.

]]> By: deborahbyrd http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-140 deborahbyrd Tue, 22 May 2007 19:55:59 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-140 Larry, have you met Arthur C. Clarke? Ah, the Mars email! I miss it! I'm sure it'll reappear soon. It's a 15-year martian cycle, isn't it? And the real closest approach was in 2003. Just think, if the hoax email keeps going around every summer for another decade or so, it'll be almost true again! Though off in some details ... like, er, well, the part about Mars appearing as large as the moon ... also the best month to see it ... Deborah Larry, have you met Arthur C. Clarke?

Ah, the Mars email! I miss it! I’m sure it’ll reappear soon. It’s a 15-year martian cycle, isn’t it? And the real closest approach was in 2003. Just think, if the hoax email keeps going around every summer for another decade or so, it’ll be almost true again! Though off in some details … like, er, well, the part about Mars appearing as large as the moon … also the best month to see it …

Deborah

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-114 Larry Sessions Mon, 21 May 2007 19:02:44 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-114 As for 2061, let's just say that I am mentioned by name. And about the Mars email, it's about time for that to start making its rounds again, isn't it? I've gotten dozens of copies every year for 3 or 4 years now, and sometimes from folks who should know better! As for 2061, let’s just say that I am mentioned by name.

And about the Mars email, it’s about time for that to start making its rounds again, isn’t it? I’ve gotten dozens of copies every year for 3 or 4 years now, and sometimes from folks who should know better!

]]> By: nroberts http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-113 nroberts Mon, 21 May 2007 16:30:48 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-113 Thanks for the speculating, Larry. Thinking about Jupiter so close and large is fun - it reminds me of those Mars hoax emails from a couple years back that said Mars would appear as large as the Moon. Ha! But it was fun to imagine. Thanks for the speculating, Larry. Thinking about Jupiter so close and large is fun - it reminds me of those Mars hoax emails from a couple years back that said Mars would appear as large as the Moon. Ha! But it was fun to imagine.

]]> By: deborahbyrd http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-112 deborahbyrd Mon, 21 May 2007 14:28:01 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-112 Larry, I haven't read 2061. What do you mean you're in it? You're a character? <i>Which one??</i> Larry, I haven’t read 2061. What do you mean you’re in it? You’re a character? Which one??

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-111 Larry Sessions Mon, 21 May 2007 13:27:20 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/larrysessions/astronomical-observing/052020/venus-is-really-bright-but-what-if/#comment-111 Joe, I couldn't see your picture, but I'm sure it is nice. I bracketed my exposures from, as I recall, F2.8 to F7, and exposures from 2 to 5 seconds. I think the photo I posted is F2.8 and 2 seconds. LS Joe, I couldn’t see your picture, but I’m sure it is nice. I bracketed my exposures from, as I recall, F2.8 to F7, and exposures from 2 to 5 seconds. I think the photo I posted is F2.8 and 2 seconds.

LS

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