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Old 03-18-2009, 03:36 PM   #7
Steve_A
Project Avalon Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northeastern Brazil
Posts: 1,259
Default Re: 20m asteroid,(2009 fh) flyby

Hi GaiaLove,

It could well be Venus then. Don't forget I'm looking at this thing from the Southern Hemisphere and not the Northern where you are.

To me it looks like a really strong star, not prism shaped, but with a bluey shine.

Best regards,

Steve



Quote:
Originally Posted by GaiaLove View Post
Hi Steve

The brightest of all planets is hanging low in the western sky at sunset, and if you look at it with a backyard telescope, you'll see that it is a slender 4% crescent.



Venus resembles a rainbow because Earth's atmosphere acts like a prism. When Venus is near the horizon, refraction separates the red crescent from the blue. The crescent is so thin, the splitting of colors is obvious. Later this month, Venus will disappear into the glare of the spring sun--so catch the rainbow planet while you can!

source: http://www.spaceweather.com/
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