Xpost: Venus is a crescent tonight--almost the same shape as the moon

[Jean in Wisc]

Tonight just after sunset, you can see the moon setting with Venus above it to the left. If you don't have a telescope, try balancing a pair of binoculars on the deck rail or pile of books or... You should be able to tell that Venus is a crescent, just a bit more bulging than the moon is, and the "horns" are pointing up much like the moon's are. Venus goes through the same shapes as does the moon.

Just thought someone might like to know :)

Jean

[Nan in Mass]

: ( By the time I found this and looked, it was behind the trees. Now if I could have teleported west...

[Kim in Appalachia]

we didn't look through a telescope, but we did enjoy looking at them. It was a very clear night, and Venus and the moon were so bright, and the moon's crescent was low, like a bowl. It was not too cold to sit out for just a minute and look.

[Janice H]

Thanks Jean. I even coaxed my husband outside to get the telescope aimed correctly. I frequently can't even get the moon in view.

[Jean in Wisc]

Thanks Jean. I even coaxed my husband outside to get the telescope aimed correctly. I frequently can't even get the moon in view.

Do you have a red dot finderscope (http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=finder_scopes/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=07228)? That can make the difference between enjoying a telescope and scrapping it.

The red dot is reflected onto glass. As you look through the finderscope, you can keep both eyes open as you look at the sky, and the sky is not upside down and backwards! You can swing the scope around so that the dot is positioned over what you want to see. It takes the frustration out of finding things! There is not a single person in our astronomy club who does not have one of these on his telescope. They are WONDERFUL!

HTH,
Jean

[Frankie]

I'm glad you posted this, because we saw it last night and admired it, but I didn't know what planet it was! Now I do.

[Janice H]

Jean, this looks very cool. You also helped further explain the catalog description. Thank you.