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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Brightest Morning Star I ever seen...

Have any of you observed Venus in the early morning recently? I just saw it rise, and I must say...it is the brightest that I have ever seen it. It shines like a blow torch in that it almost looks like the landing lights of an aircraft shining right at you!

I didn't want to drag out the scope, so I just grabbed the binoculars, and clearly saw the phase it was in. More than a crescent, it really was too bright to notice detail.

If it's clear tomorrow morning, I will prepare to observe it in the scope, and maybe take a pic or two.

If you are up early in the morn, like around 3:30 - 4:00 am, look to the east and take in the Venusian sunshine!

[stargazer]

There is this old story that went around during World War 1 about Venus.

When it would start to rise in the early morning the soldiers would fire at it thinking it was an airplane of the enemy not realizing it was the planet.

Can you imangine what they felt like when they found it it was a planet and not an airplane. I wonder if some felt like idiots.

Oh well what can we say. I wonder who told them it was a planet and to stop firing at it.

B