The observers of Venus get pretty much nothing more than its phase and quickly changing size in visible light. However, the infrared spectrum can reveal the planet's dynamic atmosphere and weak light on its night side.

Silvia Kowollik, an German astronomy amateur, wrote an interesting article about how to photograph Venus in infrared with The Imaging Source Astronomy Cameras and published it in the July's edition of the German astronomy magazine "Sterne und Weltraum" ("Stars and Space" in English).

Should you wish to read her article (in German) and view the exceptional images, you can order online at Die Nachtseite der Venus.