Venus Crescent Captured in Daylight at Abu Dhabi Observatory

Post by: Bandan Preet

Photo: X/@AstronomyCenter

In a rare and stunning astronomical event, the Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory, located in the desert of Abu Dhabi, successfully photographed the crescent of Venus in broad daylight on Sunday, March 23, 2025. This unusual sight was made possible due to a special celestial event called the inferior conjunction.

The event took place at 9:18 am UAE time, when Venus aligned directly between the Earth and the Sun. Although the planet should have appeared as a tiny black dot moving across the Sun, its tilted orbit caused it to appear 8.4 degrees away from the solar disc. Because of this, Venus looked like a thin crescent, similar to the phases of the Moon.

Using the observatory’s 14-inch main telescope, astronomers were able to capture this rare sight, despite the cloudy and rainy weather. The crescent-shaped Venus was only visible for a few minutes through small gaps in the clouds, but that brief window was enough to capture clear images of the event.

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Venus, which is often called Earth’s sister planet, goes through different phases just like the Moon. It changes from a new phase to a crescent, then to a half, gibbous, and finally a full phase—depending on its position relative to Earth and the Sun. However, spotting these phases during the daytime is extremely rare and requires expert skills along with advanced equipment.

The breathtaking images and video of the crescent Venus were taken by Engineer Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, the Director of the Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory. He was supported by a skilled team of engineers, including Khalfan Al Nuaimi, Osama Ghannam, Anas Mohammad, and Sameh Al Ashi.

This successful observation marks a significant achievement in the field of astronomy, showcasing the observatory's capabilities and the dedication of its team.

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