The planet Venus may be bright enough to cast shadows on Earth, but the Moon will soon dampen its shine.

Venus is gradually approaching its peak brightness for 2005 allowing some dedicated skywatchers a chance to use the planet’s brilliance to cast shadows here on Earth.

But time to catch Venus’ solo show is now. By Saturday evening, a crescent Moon will dampen the planet’s shine with its own light and cast shadows of its own.

Determine to witness Venus’ shadow-casting ability for himself, amateur astronomer Pete Lawrence of Selsey, United Kingdom set out with his sons Richard, 14, and Douglas, 12, for a night of planet watching on Nov. 18. It was then that they took this image of Venus.

By observing Venus after sunset on Moonless nights, well away from any manmade light sources, Lawrence and his sons were able to cast shadows against white paper.

“The slightest movement destroyed their distinct sharpness,” Lawrence said of the shadows. “It is difficult to for a cold human being to stand still long enough for the amount of time needed to catch the faint Venusian shadow.”

Venus appears in the southern sky after sunset and will hit its peak brilliance between Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, though the Moon will shine during that time. The planet is currently in a crescent phase, but on the same side of the Sun as Earth. When Venus enters its full stage, it is completely illuminated – but on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth – diminishing its brilliance.

-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: Pete Lawrence.