is it true venus has phases like the moon ?

Answer 1

yes very much so

Here is the latest observations ,records and info from our observatory database for you ..


Venus Has Phases ...
Like the Moon




Venus is coming around from behind the Sun and getting closer to the Earth with each month. As it does this, the illumination angle changes and earthlings can witness the telescopic phases of this planet.

On January 31 Venus is in its gibbous phase (more than half lit on left side of image below). In this phase Venus appears 75% illuminated and is nearly 105 million miles (169 million kilometers) from Earth. By March 29 Venus is in its first quarter phase, half lit or 50% illuminated and about 64 million miles (103 million kilometers) from earth. Also, on March 29, Venus is at its greatest elongation, angular distance to the east of the Sun.

Phases of Venus
Why Is Venus So Bright?


Venus is presently moving from a full phase toward a thin crescent phase.

Even though less and less of it is illuminated Venus looks brighter and brighter! This occurs because it is moving closer to the Earth and appears bigger and bigger. As the distance between Earth and Venus shrinks the apparent diameter of Venus grows. A thin crescent Venus closer to the Earth looks bigger and, therefore, brighter than a small full Venus farther away from Earth.

Animated Phases of Venus
Watch Venus diminish in size as it moves from a thin crescent
phase toward a full phase. Understand why its thin crescent
phase would look more brilliant from Earth than its full phase.

Venus, because it is the closest planet to the Earth, is the brightest of all planets. This planet is brighter than all the stars. In the night sky, Venus is second in brightness only to our Moon. Another reason for its blazing brightness is that it is completely enshrouded in layers of bright clouds, which make it reflect light from the Sun almost like a mirror.

In 2004 Venus is at its brightest in mid spring, reaching its greatest brilliancy for this apparition on May 2 at magnitude –4.5. At this time Venus is only 42 million miles away (68 million kilometers) Note: On May 2 Venus is 28% illuminated and still moving toward the Earth (the phase just before the sliver crescent Venus on the left side of the image above.)

BTW, when Venus is closest to us, it lies between the Earth and Sun at inferior conjunction and its illuminated surface faces the Sun. We can't see Venus at this time because no light is reflected toward us! However, when Venus is closest to the Earth and its orbit passes directly in front of the Sun, it can be seen as a black dot crossing the Sun! This rare event occurs on June 8, 2004, is called a Venus transit and has esoteric significance. On this day Venus will be a mere 27 million miles (43 million kilometers) away from the Earth.

For Northern Hemisphere observers, Venus is embarking on its best evening apparition in a decade. Look Up and marvel at this breathtaking planet. Tune to its rare daylight dance across the Sun on June 8, 2004. Be amazed and delighted!

Answer 2

Hi. Yes. At a star party one night I had Venus in a crescent phase at a pretty high magnification and just about everyone though it was the Moon. The Earth has phases too.

Answer 3

Every single planet and moon has phases -- the phases are just the changing illumination on the surface of the body as it orbits the sun (even if it orbits the sun by orbiting *another* body that orbits the sun, like our moon).

Some of these we can see, some we can't. We can see the phases on Mercury and Venus because their orbit is smaller than ours. We can see partial phases of Mars, but only a tiny amount. We can't see phases on any of the other planets because they're so much further out than we are that we only ever see their sunlit side.

It's pretty simple geometry...think about it :)

Answer 4

Yes - sometimes we see Venus with sunlight shining on only a portion of the surface facing us, so it can look like a very small version of the moon.

Answer 5

Yes, I've seen and photographed the different phases of Venus.

With a good pair of binoculars and a steady hand, you can also see it for yourself.

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Answer 6

Yes.