Catching a Glimpse of Venus: Observing Planets with a Giant Camera Obscura
Krzysztof Wójcik demonstrates that Venus’s crescent and other bright planets can be observed using a large camera obscura. By optimizing resolution, boosting image brightness with directional screens, and tracking planetary motion, clear visual and photographic results were achieved. The study suggests ancient observers might have seen Venus’s phases this way, offering new insights for astronomy and history.
Exploring Venus: A New Era in Planetary Science
Venus, Earth's "sister planet," offers crucial insights into planetary evolution, climate change, and habitability. NASA's Venus Exploration Analysis Group outlines a bold strategy with missions like VERITAS, DAVINCI, and EnVision, aiming to unravel Venus's past and its divergence from Earth. Advances in technology and international collaboration are key to exploring its extreme environment, with long-term plans including sample-return missions and human exploration.