Just one week ago, Venus passed between the Earth and the Sun.  At that point, it was new, with its night side facing the Earth.  This image, taken at 12:23 pm on January 19, 2014, shows a slender crescent waxing Venus.  We can see only a sliver of the daylit side.

As Venus continues along its orbit, traveling faster than the Earth, the angle between Venus, the Sun, and the Earth will continue to increase, and we will see more and more of the daylit side.  Venus will also appear smaller as it recedes from the Earth.

Telescope: 4" finderscope on main telescope

Camera: Lumenera SKYnyx 2-2M

Created:

January 19, 2014

Photographer:

Smithsonian Staff

ID#:

WEB13734-2014

Source:

Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory

Copyright:

Smithsonian Institution

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