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Venus can be an awkward planet to capture, in that it is always low to the horizon when darkness falls. So the best time to image Venus in in the daylight when it has a more loftier altitude and the image is not so unsteady!
Although I have observed Venus on countless days/evenings, I have never turned my webcam onto it until December 2005. Below are my attempts to capture a half decent image using both the 14" and 8" SCTs.
In 2007, Venus is much higher in altitude for longer during the mild Spring evenings. updated 8/5/2007
Date: 07/05/2007 Time: 21:07BST Seeing: 5/10 Scope: 8" Meade SCT @f15
RA: 05h57m39s Dec: +25°57'12" Altitude: +28°22' Azimuth: 276°09'
Distance from Earth: 0.96AU visual mag: -4.0 Angular size: 17.2" Phase: 65%
Philips Toucam Pro 740K Frames: 248 Avi-file length: 17s
Processed using Registax & Photoshop v7
Although the sky was clear, there had been an earlier rain shower. The early evening breeze was also a problem that showed during
the recording of the movie file. Venus was the only object visible in the sky at this time. Comparing the image captured on 8th April
to this one shows that the illuminated phase has lessened during the preceeding month!
Date: 08/04/2007 Time: 20:32BST Seeing: 7/10 Scope: 8" Meade SCT @f15
RA: 03h33m37s Dec: +20°31'20" Altitude: +25°11' Azimuth: 270°57'
Distance from Earth: 1.17AU visual mag: -3.8 Angular size: 14.3" Phase: 76%
Philips Toucam Pro 740K Frames: 590 Avi-file length: 31s
Processed using Registax & Photoshop v7
I like this image of the planet as it shows the phase quite well! Image captured just when the sky is dark blue to avoid the glare. The planet was still high in the western sky.
Date: 13/03/2007 Time: 19:58UT Seeing: 7/10 Scope: 8" Meade SCT @f6
RA: 01h33'03" Dec: +09°33'51" Altitude: +09°59' Azimuth: 272°44'
Distance from Earth: 1.32AU visual mag: -3.8 Angular size: 12.6" Phase: 83%
Philips Toucam Pro 740K Frames: 590 Avi-file length: 28secs
Processed using Registax & Photoshop v7
Date: 23/12/2005 Time: 17:02UT Seeing: 5/10 Scope: 8" Meade SCT @f6
RA: 20h14.4m Dec: -19°31' Altitude: +07°57' Azimuth: 220°51'
Distance from Earth: 0.3AU visual mag: -4.6 Angular size: 52" Phase: 12.9%
Philips Toucam Pro 740K Frames: 755 Avi-file length: 50secs
Processed using Registax & Photoshop v7
The sky was very transparent, but again I didn't capture an image until the sky became semi-dark! Hence the planet was exceedingly low in the sky and the red fringe around the crescent. I also have a yellow Venus...I think this is due to it's low altitude.
Date: 17/12/2005 Time: 16:50UT Seeing: 4/10 Scope: 14" Meade SCT @f10
RA: 20h11.9m Dec: -20°52m Altitude: +9°43m Azimuth: 212°57m
Distance from Earth: 0.3AU visual mag: -4.6 Angular size: 47" Phase: 18.5%
Philips Toucam Pro 740K Frames:549 Avi-file length: 37secs
Processed using Registax & Photoshop v7
Although the sky was transparent, the planet was very bright and low
in altitude, so hindering a steady image to webcam. Basically there is
not much to see on the disk of Venus other than the phases. At present
Venus is wanning.
All images are Copyright © John Cox 2005-2007
