Explanation:
Planet Venus
traced out this
S
shape in Earth's sky during 2004.
Following the second planet from the Sun in a series
of 29 images recorded from April 3rd
through August 7th
(top right to bottom left) of that year, astronomer Tunc Tezel
constructed this composite illustrating the
wandering planet's
path against the background stars.
The series reveals Venus' apparent
retrograde motion
transporting it from a brilliant evening star to
morning's celestial beacon.
Of course, in 2004, after sinking into the
evening twilight
but before rising above the predawn
horizon, Venus
was seen in silhouette against
the Sun (near center) - the first
transit of Venus since 1882.
The next time Venus will wander across the
solar disk is in 2012.
News: APOD editor to speak tonight in New York
