Venus (the planet)
The planet whose orbit comes closest to the earth's. Kepler worked out how it would look from the Moon, and Mariner 2 flew past it in December 1962.
The Dream: a journey to the Moon
Johannes Kepler, Somnium, published by his son Ludwig Kepler (Sagan and Frankfurt, 1634) · Written in Prague about 1609; notes added 1620–30; published 1634
Transiturus ad hoc, incipio ab ejus limitaneis, qui circulum divisorem inhabitant. Ijs enim hoc peculiare est, ut digressiones Veneris et Mercurij à Sole observent multo majores quàm nos. Ijsdem et Venus certis temporibus duplo apparet major, quàm nobis, præsertim ijs, qui sub polo Septentrionali habitant.
Turning to this hemisphere, I begin with those on its border, who live on the Divider. What is special to them is that they see Venus and Mercury stray much farther from the Sun than we do. At certain times Venus also looks twice as large to them as it does to us, especially to those who live under the north pole.
We choose to go to the Moon
John F. Kennedy, address at Rice University, Houston, September 12, 1962, from the Public Papers of the Presidents (1963) · September 12, 1962
Newton explored the meaning of gravity. Last month electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available. Only last week did we develop penicillin and television and nuclear power, and now if America’s new spacecraft succeeds in reaching Venus, we will have literally reached the stars before midnight tonight.
Newton explored the meaning of gravity. Last month electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available. Only last week did we develop penicillin and television and nuclear power, and now if America’s new spacecraft succeeds in reaching Venus, we will have literally reached the stars before midnight tonight.