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Question
Dear Philip
I live in the Southern hemisphere (Brazil) and I have just
learned that VENUS has phases - like the moon - and, for
this reason, is brighter at certain times.
What I would like to know is: at what times of the year is
VENUS brightest, and are these variations the same
observed for a spectator here (Brazil) or there (in the US)?
Thank you very much for your help.
Hello,
The brightness of Venus depends on its apparent angular size in the sky, which in turn depends on the relative position with respect to Earth. This year, the maximum angular size occurred in Feb. and the maximum brightness coincided with that.
Since the relative positions of the two planets are bound to vary in a given year and not be the same for the same dates - this means that one has to access or obtain an *Ephemeris* to see the yearly variation.
Failing that, one can always get month by month estimates of a planet's brightness from a publication - say like 'Astronomy'.
Fortunately, the variations in angular size, brightness are the same for an observer in Brazil as they are for an observer here in the U.S.
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Answers by Expert:
Philip Stahl
Expertise
I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.
Experience
Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.
Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union
Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.
Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics
Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research
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