*Quick question: When is VENUS visable in the sky in this period ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the visibility of Venus in the sky during specific times of day (dawn, dusk, noon, midnight) based on a polar graph representation of Earth and Venus. Participants explore the mechanics of Earth's rotation and its implications for observing Venus, as well as comparisons to Mars.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks how to determine when Venus is visible based on a polar graph, noting that Venus appears red and Earth green.
  • Another participant questions the possibility of Venus being visible at midnight.
  • Some participants suggest that understanding Earth's rotation direction (counter-clockwise) is crucial for determining visibility times.
  • There is a suggestion to visualize Earth as a larger circle to better understand day and night regions.
  • Multiple participants agree that Venus is visible in the morning and evening, but there is uncertainty about its visibility at night.
  • One participant indicates that Venus comes into view before sunrise for specific positions of Earth.
  • Discussion includes the visibility of Mars, with participants encouraged to analyze its position relative to the Sun and Earth.
  • Some participants clarify that Venus can be visible in the morning or evening, but not both at the same time, depending on various factors.
  • There is a contention regarding the visibility of Venus based on geographical location and night length, with some arguing that the statement about visibility is too strong without considering seasonal changes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that Venus is visible in the morning and evening, but there is disagreement regarding its visibility at night and the conditions under which it may be visible. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of visibility based on location and time of year.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in the discussion, such as the lack of data to account for seasonal changes and the implications of night length on visibility. There is also mention of edge conditions in real life that may affect visibility, which are not addressed in the current scenario.

nukeman
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Given the following: Its a polar graph.

I am trying to figure out when is VENUS visable in the sky during this period (dawn, dusk, noon, midnight) ?

How do you figure that out? Also, Venus is red, Earth is green on the chart.

Thanks!

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Is it at all possible that Venus is visible at midnight?
 
Also, remember that the Earth rotates in the same direction that it revolves around the sun (counter-clockwise in your graph). This should help you figure out when it is visible in the morning, and when in the evening. Try drawing the Earth as a larger circle, instead of a dot, and draw on which part of the Earth it is day and which it is night.
 
am I right to assume that venus is visable from Earth in the evening and morning ?

I need some help here
 
Morning and evening - yes.
 
Borek said:
Morning and evening - yes.

Great, can u possible tell me how, since I have to answer the same questoion for mars, which are the blue points
 
Without doing your homework for you, chronologically the Earth at E1 corresponds to the position of Venus at V1, and so forth. Since the Earth turns on its axis so that planetfall brings the Sun into view in the east, then E spins counterclockwise in your diagram. So V1 will come into view first for E1 and then the Sun at the center of your diagram will come into view. Thus, Venus comes into view in the early morning (before sunrise) for the Earth at E1.
 
Arch2008 said:
Without doing your homework for you, chronologically the Earth at E1 corresponds to the position of Venus at V1, and so forth. Since the Earth turns on its axis so that planetfall brings the Sun into view in the east, then E spins counterclockwise in your diagram. So V1 will come into view first for E1 and then the Sun at the center of your diagram will come into view. Thus, Venus comes into view in the early morning (before sunrise) for the Earth at E1.

Oh ok great. So, its not visable at night then based on those points?

How about mars?
 
V5 looks like it would be visible for some time from E5 before sunrise.

A point on E1 is/has been facing away from the Sun when M1 is in view, so night viewing.
 
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  • #10
nukeman said:
Great, can u possible tell me how, since I have to answer the same questoion for mars, which are the blue points


E1 through E7 represent points in Earth's year; each one is a few weeks apart. At any given one of them, Earth is spinning on its axis like a top - these are its days.

Imagining yourself standing on that dot that is Earth, you are spinning counterclockwise, round and round. No, forget imagining - draw it. Draw a dot on the Earth's dot that represents you, standing on the Earth.

From your point of view, a little dot on the bigger dot, which is rotating counterclockwsie, the sun will move past you from left to right. It will rise on your left and set on your right. When the Earth dot rotates so that the you-dot is directly away from the Sun, that is midnight to you, when the you-dot is pointed directly at the sun, that is noon to you.

This is key. Understanding this CCW rotation is the key to knowing the day-night cycle of Earth, particularly when it is sunrise and when its sunset.

Now, as the you-dot observes the sun rise on its left and set on its right, where is Mars? Is Mars ever visible in you-dot's sky at the same time as the Sun? As you-dot rotates, does Mars become visible before the Sun becomes visible? Does Mars stay visible after the Sun sets?
 
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  • #11
As you were suggested several times - replace dots with small circles, and put a dot - which will be observer - on the planet surface. When observer is close to the Sun - what time is it? When observer is on the other side of the circle - what time is it? Is it possible to see Venus when you are on the side opposite to Sun?
 
  • #12
nukeman said:
am I right to assume that venus is visable from Earth in the evening and morning ?

I need some help here

Note that it is sometimes visible in the morning and sometimes in the evening, but never visible in both the morning and the evening.
 
  • #13
phyzguy said:
Note that it is sometimes visible in the morning and sometimes in the evening, but never visible in both the morning and the evening.

That's not quite true. It depends on where you are and on the night length.
 
  • #14
Borek said:
That's not quite true. It depends on where you are and on the night length.

There are some edge conditions in real life, yes.

But in this scenario we are not provided with data to account for seasonal changes. You can say nothing at all about day/night length when providing answers.
 
  • #15
Sure. Just the statement was a little bit too strong to my liking. Especially after not seeing nights for two weeks far North this Summer.
 

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