Fred Schaaf's Northern Hemisphere's Sky column for June 2010 discusses some phenomena that are visible in twilight, one of them being the Belt of Venus. Why is Venus sometimes called Earth’s twin? It's thanks to that citrusy wedge called the Belt of Venus, and neighboring it are the blankets of blue and purple. My most recent photograph of the Belt of Venus is posted at http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4260274/page/2/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1. I drive eastward on the way home from work, and at the time of year when sunset coincides with that drive, the Belt of Venus is always a welcome treat. I'm curious as to where the name originated from. Looking west I clearly saw the Belt of Venus but didn't realize it was a named phenomenon. The pink is called the Belt of Venus and also antitwilight. Someone want to try to explain this? Dusk and Dawn recruit the humanoid Keeper and his tribe to learn more about the Belt of Venus. https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/113781782904370895078. We thought he was just trying to make fools of us, but when we tried it, it worked! It is not associated with the planet Venus. Why is Venus so hot? Venus is often called the Earth’s sister planet. The painting attracts with its intimacy, the elegance of the image. This back show is called the “Belt of Venus” which is often on going while your watching the sunrise. The inner planets (in order of distance from the sun, closest to furthest) are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. In astronomy and astrobiology, the circumstellar habitable zone (CHZ), or simply the habitable zone, is the range of orbits around a star within which a planetary surface can support liquid water given sufficient atmospheric pressure. It’s called the Belt of Venus. All you need to see for yourself is a clear evening and a site with an unobstructed eastern horizon. Sky & Telescope, Night Sky, and skyandtelescope.org are registered trademarks of AAS Sky Publishing LLC. I guess the shadow is the same effect as the crepuscular rays mentioned by Derek, except that the shadow was below me rather than above. A hilltop, lakefront, or beach is ideal. The pink band above the shadow – in the east after sunset, or west before dawn – is called the Belt of Venus. The dark band of the Earth’s shadow at dusk and dawn often has a light pink arch above it, known as the Belt of Venus. As the sun rose, the belt moved lower to the horizon. During the transit of Venus, two observers on Earth view Venus at two different points on the Sun. Backscatter causes the colors of the belt to become more pronounced and vivid right before the sun rises or just after it sets for the day. A nice article about a little-understood and under-appreciated phenomenon we have the chance to see frequently - if we only open our minds to it. It is a border to the shadow, but it also forms a striking arch — though an exceedingly low and broad one. Here in the Colorado Rockies at 8000 to 10000 feet we see this every clear evening - about 300 times per year! Also known as the Girdle of Venus, it's the pink band layered between the blue sky and the Earth's rising or setting shadow - the deep blue-gray band along the horizon. Copyright ©2021 AAS Sky Publishing LLC. The glow is highly reddened sun rays backscattered by the atmosphere. Going fast! And you don't actually have to look between your legs. This pink back show is called the “Belt of Venus” which is often on … Venus is a terrestrial planet and is sometimes called Earth’s “sister planet” because of their similar size, mass, proximity to the Sun, and bulk composition. And reading about it in various sources, it was obvious that I must have seen it dozens or hundreds of times, but I had never recognized it. According to the Romans, the sky was comprised of seven bodies that shone the brightest; five planets, the moon and the brightest being the sun.They were thus named after the gods that they revered the most. Earth’s shadow extends millions of miles out in space, which is why we have lunar eclipses. Sky & Telescope maintains a strict policy of editorial independence from the AAS and its research publications in reporting developments in astronomy to readers. Simply, they are shadows of clouds or geology like mountains cast across the terminator at either dawn or dusk. It is now clearly rounded, taller in the middle than on the sides. The lunar calendars are here! http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4260274/page/2/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1, Nights of the Living Dead — What Stars Leave Behind, Pluto's Moon Charon Receives Formal Names, Hunting White Dwarfs, the Night's Stellar Peewees, Juno Will Stay in Current Orbit Around Jupiter, By Jove! But, the Panoramas could become better. We are used to seeing glorious sunsets and sunrises, but on the opposite horizon to the Sun a little-known atmospheric phenomenon called the Belt of Venus – named after the Roman goddess of love – can be witnessed, offering equally stunning views. Surprisingly, it has started to lift off the horizon. The Belt of Venus has several names, including. Fifteen minutes after sunset, the pink has dissipated. The blue line is earth's shadow. Your explanations will make me focus in on more of the details of this amazing wonder in the sky. : I've had great fun over the years teaching people how to do this. They make great gifts. Juno Images Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Stay Eat Events Weather Beaches. World of Phenomena » Atmospheric » Belt of Venus. I'll pay more attention next time. Fred demurred, describing it as "pinkish border to Earth's shadow.". As the Sun is setting in the West, the belt will be visible in the eastern sky (remember that it’s visible opposite the sun). Most people know about the Heart Line in Palmistry, which represents your approach to love and commitment. Great article. What a wonderful article. Look westwards before dawn to see the reverse sequence. This is the light of the sunset where you're standing being reflected off the atmosphere some 50 or 100 miles east of you, as shown above. The pink color in the belt is sunlight that is shining through denser atmosphere near the Earth’s surface, and being reflected off of atmosphere at the opposite end of the sky. However, unlike the alpenglow, the Belt of Venus is caused by fine dust particles that are suspended in the atmosphere, which means that the Belt of Venus persists for much longer than other, similar phenomena.. Visible in the above photograph, this off-color band between the dark eclipsed sky and the blue sky can best be seen in the direction opposite the Sun and … Cupid unleashes the belt of Venus by Reynolds Joshua. This means that ancient people knew of Venus, and tracked its movements in the sky. Straight above, blue sky is normal sunlight reflecting off the atmosphere. The goddess of beauty and love, Venus coquettishly covers her face from immodest looks. Why is Venus sometimes called Earth's twin? Share. Get yours today. Crepuscular rays are another lovely phenomenon also under-appreciated and little-understood. It tempts me with what's waiting behind that beautiful, rising curtain if only I take the time to get the telescope out the door when I get home. Additional information. One day, the pair receive a message from a nearby land called the Belt of Venus that they are plotting to overtake both Dusk and Dawn's home, unless they want to make peace with them. Called the Belt of Venus, this off-color band between the dark eclipsed sky and the blue sky can be seen in nearly every direction including that opposite the Sun. What causes the pink and deep blue on the horizon opposite the sun before sunrise or after sunset? The planet was named by the Romans who observed the sky and the planets. But even more, though people go out to watch sunsets all the time, they rarely think to turn away from the spectacular vista in the west and see what's happening on the opposite side of the sky. We call it Alpenglow - the pink lighting of the mountains in the east after sunset. Althouh he describes it viewing west at sunset, the figure 169 (Light and color in the Outdoors, 1993 Springer-Verlag) illustrates that it is seen to the east as well. How did Venus get its name? The belt is similar to alpenglow, which creates a reddish glow just over the horizon. Just before the sun rises in the east, a blue line is apparent in the atmosphere just above the western horizon, and above the blue line is a broader pink band. Follow asked 8 hours ago. All rights reserved. Several factors contribute to the Belt of Venus phenomenon. We'll call the angle between the two paths measured from Earth E . It was an Icy Alpenglow Morning right at sunrise up yonder on the ridgetops. It is called this due to an association of the phenomenon with the greek goddess Aphrodite and roman goddess Venus. Because their scale can be hundreds of miles long, they often show convergence effects on the set sun and its anti-point. Belt of Venus Street. Created by Moonlight Developments. She would have been thrilled to know the science behind it. While this phenomenon can be seen at sunrise, the best time to find it is at sunset. By: Tony Flanders Years ago, when I was taking Astronomy 101, my professor told us that if we turned our back on the Belt, bent over, and looked at it through our legs, it would appear much brighter. Fred simply mentioned the Belt of Venus, but I thought it needed more explanation.So I picked up a phrase from the internet, and described the Belt of Venus as "an arch of pinkish light above the shadow that Earth casts on the atmosphere opposite the sunset." Oxford University's Dr Colin Wilson worked on the European Space Agency's Venus Express probe (2006-2014), and is a leading figure in the development of a new mission concept called EnVision. What a cool article I have often admired the pretty pink in the sky at sunset while walking on the beach or photographing moonrises, but never thought about the explanation. (You can unsubscribe anytime). You are watching the onset of night. However, the bands in Greg's photos are most likely artifacts from post-processing of image-stitching (merging of more than one image panorama from a camera). Belt of Venus Framed. It actually does appear significantly brighter that way. This is the first time I've heard the term Belt of Venus applied. February 21, 2017, By: David Dickinson It is called this due to an association of the phenomenon with the greek goddess Aphrodite and roman goddess Venus. The Sun is now setting about 100 miles west of you. This is an interesting subject but the vertical bands in the pictures get in the way of seeing the belt. You are, in fact, seeing Earth's shadow. 26/12/2012. Earth’s shadow extends millions of miles out in space, which is why we have lunar eclipses. Now there's a thin band of bluish sky below the pink. By: Bob King What are those artifacts? I had always interpreted this 'belt' as part of what Minnaert had called the 'purple light'. This is called a Girdle of Venus (see photo).The Girdle of Venus may be complete (as in the picture) or, more often, composed of broken or overlapping lines.This marking has a … The best conditions for getting a nice view are when the sky is clear, when there’s minimal wind and humidity, and when there are no obstructions on the horizon. 14, Yes, I would like to receive emails from Sky & Telescope. Fortunately, it was clear the next few nights, so I was able to observe the Belt of Venus several times in a row, both in the evening and morning. July 13, 2017. According to the ancient legend, in this wonderful belt love, desire and words of seduction were made. Venus is … The bottom line is that as usual, both Fred and I are right. 12/1/11 Fred demurred, describing it as "pinkish border to Earth's shadow." Thank you, you have made this phenomenon more special than it already was. Type: Canvas, Metal, Framed Print, Art Print. November 18, 2015, By: David Dickinson This post is a nice treat, Tony. It is not associated with the planet Venus. Six minutes after sunset, the dark blue band below the pink ribbon is beginning to take on shape and substance. Venus is one of the 5 planets visible with the unaided eye. The almost hot pink layer of clouds just above earth’s shadow is called the Belt of Venus which is a lot like alpenglow, but it is in the atmosphere and it can last longer than alpenglow. It's popularly believed that this Grecian statue depicts the … As the sky lightens the Earth's shadow becomes more and more dark and distinct as it sinks towards the horizon. There's a reason why dawn and dusk look so picturesque; arguably the most beautiful time of the day the sky becomes. Wikimedia Commons / flagstaffotos.com.au / GFDL, Fred simply mentioned the Belt of Venus, but I thought it needed more explanation.So I picked up a phrase from the internet, and described the Belt of Venus as "an arch of pinkish light above the shadow that Earth casts on the atmosphere opposite the sunset." P.S. I love to watch the sunrise and sunset. Thanks for your article. February 21, 2010 The Belt of Venus is an atmospheric optical phenomenon, but could also be considered a space phenomenon. The dark shadow is topped by a rosy pink glow - the 'anti-twilight arch sometimes called the 'Belt of Venus'. The effect is due to the reddened sunlight being backscattered in the atmosphere, which produces the rosy glow. Right after the Sun sets, tear your eyes away from the arresting scene in the west, and look east to see a bright pink band opposite the Sun. Venus is the second planet from the sun after Mercury. May 1, 2014 Sarah Palmistry, Relationships 0. Partly it's because it's a fairly subtle effect. It extends about 10-20 degrees up from the horizon, acting as a boundary between the shadow and the sky. It is actually the area between Earth’s shadow and the blue sky. 36.9k 9 9 gold badges 123 123 silver badges 238 238 bronze badges The shadow forms a perfect pyramid that I think many climbers misinterpret as mirroring the shape of the mountain, but it is almost certainly just a distance/convergence effect. They are beautiful and your photos are awesome. The beauty of them are simply fascinating to me. Great article. It is best seen during the summer months, on clear and slightly hazy evenings. Cupid, playful kid, pulls the ends of the blue silk belt, carefully watching his mother. As an astronomy writer, I knew the term, of course. Venus is the second planet from the Sun, but C is the third letter of the alphabet. As a child we often looked east during sunset to see the "skyblue pink" as my Mother called it. Th Earth's shadow comes in, too, called the "dark segment". Some people even have a second Heart Line, which floats above the first. That light is still reflecting off the atmosphere to your east, but now some of it is blocked by Earth itself — even, just a little, by you standing on that hilltop. In addition to the Belt, I could clearly see the shadow of Mt Hood projected westward. The main sunrise show over my right shoulder is usually yellow (ish) but this back show is Lavender/Pink/Orange. When it’s visible, the belt will appear anywhere from 10° to 46° over the horizon line. Unfortunately, I had no first-hand experience to fall back on. The bounds of the CHZ are based on Earth's position in the Solar System and the amount of radiant energy it receives from the Sun. Credits: marder17. Soon, Earth's shadow will grow and darken dramatically, and eventually it will cover the entire sky, allowing you to look out at the greater universe that's usually hidden by the Sun. In some ways, the Belt of Venus is similar to the alpenglow, which is also caused by the scattering of reddened sunlight. I have some good photos of this. Thanks for an interesting article on something that, as you say, people often pay little attention to. As with alpenglow, predominantly red light is scattered by particulates, forming a pink glow. Why is a Venus spacecraft called Planet-C? During a cloudless twilight, just before sunrise or after sunset, part of the atmosphere above the horizon appears slightly off-color, slightly pink. It was an Icy Alpenglow Morning right at sunrise up yonder on the ridge tops. I climbed Mt Hood in Oregon a few years ago, arriving at the peak at sunrise. The dark blue layer in the sky below the pink belt is Earth’s “shadow” being cast onto the atmosphere. It is radically different from Earth in other respects. Copyright © 2017. The Belt of Venus, Venus's Girdle, or antitwilight arch is an atmospheric phenomenon visible shortly before sunrise or after sunset, during civil twilight, when a pinkish glow extending roughly 10–20° above the horizon surrounds the observer. What is the largest object that we can see? It is visible at sunrise or sunset, but is more pronounced at sunset. I had never heard of the Belt of Venus but thoroughly enjoy the colors in the eastern sky at sunset. Venus de Milo's title is a bit misleading. That's a great set of photos showing its progression from intense to subtle as it rises in the sky. But you can still make out Earth's shadow in the east as a huge, low hump of darker sky along the horizon — exactly the opposite of the normal situation, where the sky is brightest along the horizon and darker toward the zenith. venus akatsuki. When it’s visible, the belt will appear anywhere from 10° to 46° over the horizon line. Belt of Venus: the Other Side of Oregon / Washington Coast Sunset - From an astronomer, inside look into the floating phenom called the Belt of Venus . Why is it called the Belt of Venus? The main show over my shoulder is usually yellow (ish) but this backshow is Pink. The “Belt of Venus” is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates a pink band in the sky at sunrise and sunset. After an asteroid belt comes the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Thanks to Kepler's third law , we know the relative distances of all the planets from the Sun. If you stand facing the Belt and just lean over sideways, you get the same effect. So the lowest part of the atmosphere opposite the sunset is no longer lit up. Sky & Telescope is part of AAS Sky Publishing, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Astronomical Society. They show as bands arcing or arching upwards into and sometimes across the sky. Print Size: Case in point: We know that Venus's distance from the Sun is .72 times the Earth's distance from the Sun. Three minutes later, the pinkish band has become fainter, but with a richer hue. DrSheldon DrSheldon. During sunrise and sunset, the effects of scattering are magnified, which is why a rising and setting sun typically has a spectacular red glow. Why is the Belt of Venus so little known? As the Sun sets or rises its light moves through the atmosphere and casts a shadow of the Earth onto the sky. Also known as the Girdle of Venus, it's the pink band layered between the blue sky and the Earth's rising or setting shadow - the deep blue-gray band along the horizon.
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