The Grace of Venus, 2017 (digital photo)

Creator: Martin Lewis This is an infared (IR) image of the view of a slender Venus hung low in the western sky, shortly before sunset. The IR filter used on the camera during the recording helps steady the view, thus improving the ability to capture teh finer details of the thin crescent. "The apparent simplicity of this exquisite image is deceiving. It is a tremendously technical picture as well as being an evocative portrait of our planetary neighbour seen from afar." Will Gater Born digital photograph entitled 'The Grace of Venus' taken by Martin Lewis in Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom on 15th March 2017. Taken with Home-built 444mm Dobsonian reflecting telescope; Astronomik 807nm IR filter; Home-built Equatorial tracking platform; ZWO ASI174MM; 12.4m; f28. Winner of the Planets, Comets & Asteroids category in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2018.