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View Full Version here: : Inferior Approach - Venus 4th-11th August


andyc
14-08-2023, 05:41 PM
My likely final set of Venus conjunction images (it's cloudy now) - a triptych set of Venus on approach to inferior conjunction, passing underneath the Sun with north up, passing above the Sun from Sydney. Between 4th and 11th August (9, 4 & 2 days before conjunction), Venus' crescent shrank from 3.4% to 1.0% illuminated and it closed from 15°-8° from the Sun. As it is passing quite far to the south of the Sun, the crescent's lit portion slides around from the northeast to the north side of the planet; this set is oriented with celestial north up. I used the roof of my house to protect the telescope during capture, plpus some long dewshield extensions and a lot of safety checking on the 9th & 11th!

No telescopes, eyes, or passing cockatoos were harmed during these captures - with a 14" mirror pointed far too close to the Sun...

Celestron C14, ZWO ASI462MC, IR & colour (UV/IR cut) filters.

Tinderboxsky
14-08-2023, 05:58 PM
Nice set of images, Andy.

I am hopeful for a few more images as the gap widens, to complete a similar set.

N1
14-08-2023, 09:42 PM
Superb set!

Dave882
14-08-2023, 09:53 PM
Wonderful images!

Stefan Buda
14-08-2023, 09:59 PM
A bit scary but impressive. Well done!

Averton
17-08-2023, 11:46 AM
Excellent work Andy!

andyc
26-08-2023, 09:15 PM
Thanks all! @Stefan - though I wanted to continue the sequence... when the clouds got in the way, a bit of me was very relieved not to point the scope that close to the Sun again!