The Lomonossov arc: refraction and scattering in Venus atmosphere during solar transits

Abstract

The main observations of 1761 by M. Lomonossov and those that followed are recalled by extending the discussion to other remarkable visual observations of the passages, then with more and more powerful imagers producing images in profusion. The modern treatment of parasitic effects is briefly recalled by focusing on the expert observation of 1761 which has recently been widely commented on and criticized. It included a spurious effect called the “black drop effect”. The shell or aureole or atmospheric ring of Venus observed outside the solar disk is considered with reference to the today parameters of the Venus atmosphere. The contacts during the transit are discussed taking into account effects of scattering, absorption, and the dominant effects of the refraction at the small angular distances found to be comparable to a fraction of the angular dimension of the planet. Modern observations of the 2004 and the 2012 transit are tentatively discussed to elucidate what is the arc of Lomonossov.