On January 10, Venus will be at its maximum eastern elongation, meaning its apparent distance from the Sun will be at its maximum. Please read the article to learn what this means and what opportunities it offers.
What is elongation?
The elongation of a planet is an astronomical term that refers to its apparent distance from the Sun in the Earth’s sky. If we give a more precise definition, it is the angle between the directions to the center of our luminary and a certain celestial body. That is why it is defined in degrees.
Elongation can be determined for any celestial body. However, astronomers regularly monitor its value for two planets – Mercury and Venus. The fact is that they are inner planets relative to the Earth. And, although they may be separated from the Sun by tens of millions of kilometers, in our sky they are never very far from it.
This leads to the fact that you can see these planets only before dawn or just after sunset, but never in the middle of the night. In addition, much of the time they hide behind our luminary or pass between it and us, or their distance from it in the sky is so small that it is impossible to observe them normally.
That is why astronomers emphasize the moments when the elongation of Venus and especially Mercury becomes maximum. Then, because of their apparent distance from the Sun, they are most convenient to observe.
Eastern elongation
Those who have recently observed Venus know that it is now in the eastern elongation, that is, it is always east of our luminary and as if moving across the sky behind it. Because of this, it is visible after sunset, and last month the time when it can be observed in the evening sky, little by little increased. If you look at Venus through a telescope, you will see that it now looks like the Moon in the first quarter phase.
Venus is gradually approaching us, and at the end of March, it will be almost exactly between the Earth and the Sun. Its phase is decreasing, that is, it will look more and more like the thin horn of the young Moon in the telescope. However, the angular size of Venus will grow, and therefore for some time, the light will increase.
On January 10, the eastern elongation will be maximum. It will be 47°. At the same time, the brightness of our nearest neighbor will be -4.5m, and its phase will be 51%.
After that, the elongation will begin to decrease, but the planet’s altitude and brilliance will continue to increase. On February 4, Venus will reach its highest point in the sky. Its light will be as low as -4.5m.
After that, the elongation will begin to decrease, but the planet’s altitude and brilliance will continue to increase. On February 4, Venus will reach its highest point in the sky. Its light will be as low as -4.5m.
And then, in the spring, Venus will move out from the other side of the Sun. But it will be a western elongation. The planet will be ahead of the Sun in the sky. Therefore, it will be possible to observe it before dawn. Distance, and accordingly, and the time when the closest planet to us will be visible, will grow until June 1 will not reach the maximum.
