Be sure to write down the date and time of each observation. This is important information in all astronomical observations.

Open Starry Night and, if you haven’t already done so, set your home location.

If they’re not already displayed, turn on the Planet palette and the Display palette by clicking the corresponding icon on the Tool palette.

If it is daylight in your location, turn daylight off by clicking Daylight on the Display palette.

Turn on "mouse information" by selecting Mouse Info from the Window menu or clicking the arrow labeled Mouse in the Tool palette. "Mouse information" displays a box at lower left that gives the name of the object or constellation over which your pointer is resting. This makes it easier to be sure you’re selecting the correct object.

Turn on Onscreen Info by clicking Info in the Display palette. Click the button next to Info in the Display palette. Click in the RA and Dec. box. (Hint: You might want to change the label color to white for better contrast.) Click OK.

Click the dot next to Planets in the Display palette. Under the General tab, select Show Planets and Labels. (Hint: You might want to change the label color to white for better contrast.) Click OK to save the changes.

Double click Venus in the Planet palette.

1. Is Venus above the horizon?

2. What are the right ascension and declination for Venus?

3. What is the nearest visible planet?

Right click Venus and choose Live Sky Bookmark from the pop-up menu. Click the Venus (StarDate) link and read the article.

4. What would happen if you went to Venus?

5. If you could stand on the surface, how bright would the daytime sky appear to be?

6. Describe the winds you would feel if you were able to stand on the surface.

Now follow the link to Viewing in (the current year).

7. Is Venus currently visible as a morning star or an evening star in the northern hemisphere?

8. If so:

a. Where would you expect to find it at dawn or sunset?

b. When did it first become visible as a morning or evening star?

c. When will it next become visible as an evening or morning star?

9. If not, when will it next be visible as an evening star or morning star?

Return to Starry Night and use the Elevation, Field of View, and Time controls to determine when, this year and in your location, Venus will be a morning or evening star.

10. Venus becomes/became a morning star on _______________ (date) at _________ (time).

11. Venus becomes/became an evening star on _______________ (date) at _________ (time).

12. How well did the results you obtained with Starry Night match the information you obtained from the StarDate site?