Crescent-shaped Planet
The planet Venus which is still easily visible to the naked eye during daylight hours, is directly north shortly after noon and is very high in the heavens. Viewed through a telescope the planet is observed to be crescent-shaped on account of its close proximity to the sun. Only about one-third oT the surface of the planet can be 1 seen and Venus ap--pears like a miniature moon. Ihe mistake in thinking that the planet was a comet, made by Gisborne residents, has been pointed out in a later issue of the Gisborne Herald, which states that a number of residents on the. Coast had observed the planet for some time and in view of its position in relation to 1 the sun correctly surmised that the object in the sky was that of the planet Venus. It is hard to undei*stand how anyone eoxxld have mistaken the planet for a comet as Venus has been visible in daylight for some considerable time. Apart froxn that a comet that could be seen in daylight would have been noticed long ago by astronomers.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BPB19420116.2.23
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 4, 16 January 1942, Page 5
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184Crescent-shaped Planet Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 4, 16 January 1942, Page 5
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