Posted on 10/29/2026 12:00:48 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: That's no moon. But you could be forgiven for thinking it was a crescent Moon in the sky. It is a lesser known fact that Venus also has phases. (What about other planets?) The featured image shows Venus seen almost directly between the Sun and the Earth. This happens once every year and a half, and it is like the alignment that happens every month during a new Moon. But the new Moon is dark, while Venus' backlit atmosphere refracts and scatters the sunlight, creating a glowing crescent arc that extends beyond 180 degrees: the tips of this arc are called the "horns". The crescent can be seen with a small telescope or binoculars during twilight, but those with exceptionally acute eyesight may be able to see it with the unaided eye. Ancient Babylonian astronomers may have been the first to study Venus' brightness changes, which are related to its phases. Many other cultures have similar astronomical records, including the oldest surviving Maya book.
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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
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Wow.
Can we see the Mounds of Venus?..................
Yes, but not her arms. They can make us grow old, but they can't make us mature.
Interesting. I didn’t know about that.
bttt
Cool.
It’s almost hard to believe that something could look so serene and peaceful; and yet be so much HELL on its surface.
Yep, 800 or so degrees F and 90 atmospheres of weight makes for a bad visitor experience.
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