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                           GENERAL ARTICLES   
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                     The phases of Venus   
                     By Michiel van der Vlist, 2:280/55555   
      
      
   If you have a small telescope, the coming days and weeks are a good   
   time to take a closer look at Venus. Venus is easely visible in the   
   South West from just after sunset untill about midnight. It is the   
   brightest celestial object in the evening sky apart from the moon.   
      
   Venus is the second planet in our solar system. It is one of the two   
   zo called inner planets. Its orbit lies between that of the earth   
   and the sun. The other inner planet is Mercury.   
      
   On the 4th of June Venus will reach its maximum western elongation,   
   meaning its apparent distance to the sun is at maximum. It will then   
   move into the direction of the sun until inferior conjunction on the   
   13th of August when it is more or less in front of the sun.   
      
   In the mean time the physical distance between Venus and Earth will   
   decrease, Venus comes closer to earth and so it will look bigger in   
   the telescope. More interesting, its phase will becomme more   
   prominent. Like the moon, Venus shows phases. At maxumum elongation   
   it will be "half Venus". When Venus moves towards earth and moves   
   toward inferior conjunction, it will turn into a crescent before   
   disappearing althogether.   
      
   The coming weeks this may be interesting to watch with a small   
   telescope. In the later phase, it may even be visible with a good   
   pair of binoculars. Enjoy!   
      
      
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