2006-12-06 09:28:21 · 7 answers · asked by deon xoxo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As one of the brightest objects in the sky, Venus has been known since prehistoric times and from the earliest days has had a significant impact on human culture.
2006-12-06 09:31:49 · answer #1 · answered by Sean 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Galileo first observed the planet in the early 17th century, he found that it showed phases like the Moon's, varying from crescent to gibbous to full and vice versa. This could be possible only if Venus orbited the Sun, and this was among the first observations to clearly contradict the Ptolemaic geocentric model that the solar system was concentric and centered on the Earth.[27]
Venus' atmosphere was discovered as early as 1790 by Johann Schröter. Schröter found that when the planet was a thin crescent, the cusps extended through more than 180°. He correctly surmised that this was due to scattering of sunlight in a dense atmosphere. Later, Chester Smith Lyman observed a complete ring around the dark side of the planet when it was at inferior conjunction, providing further evidence for an atmosphere.[28] The atmosphere complicated efforts to determine a rotation period for the planet, and observers such as Giovanni Cassini and Schröter incorrectly estimated periods of about 24 hours from the motions of apparent markings on the planet's surface.[29]
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2006-12-06 21:39:30 · answer #2 · answered by catzpaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Venus was known in antiquity (as were Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). It is visible for much of the year and is the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon, so Venus has been known to man for as long as man has existed. No one person discovered Venus any more than one person discovered the Sun or the Moon.
2006-12-06 09:29:20 · answer #3 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No one knows who discovered Venus, but Robert Richardson noticed that Venus rotates backwards.
2006-12-06 10:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by lucky77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Galileo was the first to confirm the astronomical body of Venus as a planet.
2006-12-06 09:33:57 · answer #5 · answered by soul_plus_heart_equals_man 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The martians first told me about Venus but they told me that they heard about it from the man in the moon. I'm thinking about going up there next week.....I'd be glad to ask around if you can wait that long.
2006-12-06 09:42:47 · answer #6 · answered by Barry DaLive 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cave (wo-)man in prehistorical time.
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2006-12-06 09:51:15 · answer #7 · answered by Thermo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋