Venus
Venus is a nice object to observe. Especially if it can be seen very bright in the evening skies. As an inner planet venus shows phases similar to those of the Moon. During the relatively short  orbit compared to the one of earth the changing phases are easy to observe over the course of a few days. Because venus is so bright, exposure times for photography are short, even with eyepiece projection. Therefore venus as an inner planet is near to the horizon where seeing is poor most times, short exposure times are an advantage to get good pictures.
Venus in February and March 2001
A cooperation between Berlin - Steglitz, Germany and Fremont, California.
(click on pictures to see full size versions)
Venus seen from Berlin-Steglitz, February 2nd, 2001, 18:16 MEZ
Image taken with Pentax MX on a tripod with 50mm lens, 1:2,8
5sec on Fuji Superia 200
Sibylle Fröhlich
Eyepiece projection, February 13th, 2001, 19:17 MEZ
Image taken with 114/900mm Newtonian and 6mm eyepiece
resulting focal length 10m, 1:90, 1/2 sec on Fuji Superia 200.
The image is showing venus about 4 weeks after it's maximum westward elongation,
which was January 17th, 2001 6:00 UT
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 37%
Sibylle Fröhlich
Moon and Venus seen from Berlin-Steglitz, February 26th, 2001, 18:28 MEZ
Image taken with Pentax MX on a tripod with 50mm lens, 1:2,8
3sec on Fuji Superia 200
Sibylle Fröhlich
Moonphase  3d 9h 6'
Sibylle Fröhlich
Eyepiece projection, March 2nd, 2001, 19:01 MEZ
Image taken with 114/900mm Newtonian and 6mm eyepiece
resulting focal length 10m, 1:90, 1/2 sec on Fuji Superia 200.
The image is showing venus 9days after it's maximum magnitude which was 
February 22nd, 2001, 1:00 UT
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 20%
Sibylle Fröhlich
Eyepiece projection, March 6th, 2001, 19:00 MEZ
Image taken with 114/900mm Newtonian and 6mm eyepiece
resulting focal length 10m, 1:90, 1/4 sec on Kodak Klassik  200.
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 16 % 
Sibylle Fröhlich
These two images where taken march 3rd, 2001 during the daytime with a digital camera which was simply held behind the eyepiece. The telescope was a 80mm MC ED Apo refractor, focal length 640 mm,1:8 with a 9mm eypiece. Exposure times where set by the camera, images processed in the computer.
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 12%
Gert Gottschalk
Eyepiece projection, March 15th, 2001, 19:15 MEZ
Image taken with 114/900mm Newtonian and 6mm eyepiece
resulting focal length 10m, 1:90, 1/4 sec on Kodak Klassik  200.
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 7,9 %
Sibylle Fröhlich
Two digital images, March 18th, 2001.
Same camera and exposure settings as march 3rd, 2001.
The illuminated fraction of the disc was  6%
Gert Gottschalk
Digital image, March 24th, 2001
Camera settings same as on March 3rd, 2001
Telescope was a 80mm MC ED Apo refractor focal length 640mm, 1:8. with 9mm eyepiece and 2.5x Barlow lens
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 2%
Gert Gottschalk
Digital image, March 30th, 2001
Same camera and exposure settings as on March 24th, 2001
The illuminated fraction of the disc was 1%, distance from sun 8degree !
Gert Gottschalk
S. Fröhlich, G. Gottschalk, March 2001
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