Expert: Tom Whiting - 10/31/2009

Question
Hi, I'm trying to write a story set on Venus and I was wondering about this: If Venus had the same atmosphere as earth, and you looked up at the sun in the sky from its surface, how big would the sun appear? Would it be a gigantic, blinding ball of fire or maybe just twice the size of earth's view?

Answer
Hi Karis,
I'm sure that it can be figured out mathematically, but I'm no math major. However, I can
estimate it pretty accurately, because I've read where the sun from Mercury is triple what
we see....
http://www.ehow.com/about_4570171_what-distance-sun-mercury.html
And since the relationship of distances is 36 - 67 - 93 million miles on average, (or nearly
1 to 2 to 3) that puts the sun's disk about double the size from the surface of Venus,
or about a 1 degree disk. (It's a 1/2 degree disk from the Earth...same as the full moon).
So no, it would not be gigantic at only double the size, however like from the Earth, it IS
a blinding ball which even from the Earth should never be looked at with the unaided eye.
So yes, your last statement is correct...about twice the size as Earth's view.
Hope this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA