( 4<*8 ) 
T G defcribe die arch G V, cutting the Semicircle# V E in 
and draw the lines S V,T V: i fay the Triangle S TV is Simi- 
lar to that at whole Angles are the Sun, Earth and Ecnus, at 
the time when the Area of the enlightned part of that Planets 
Disk, as feen from the Earth , is greatest How this Geo- 
metrical Effedion follows from the Equation is too evident 
to need repetition. 
In confequence of this Solution, T find this Maximum al- 
ways to happen, when the Planet is about forty Degrees di- 
ftant from the Sun ; and the times thereof, about the middle 
between her greateft Elongations on both fides from him, and 
her retrograde Conjunctions with him 5 when little more than 
a quarter of her vifible Disk is luminous, and refembling the 
Moon. of about five Days old ; and notwithfianding that her 
Diameter is at that time but 50 Seconds* yet (lie fliines with 
fo ftrong a Beam, as to furpafs the united light of all the fixt 
Stars that appear with her, and cafts a very ftrong Shade on 
the Horizontal plain whereon they all fhine : an irrefragable 
Argument to prove that the Disks of the fixt Stars are uncon- 
ceivably frnall, and next to nothing j fince Aiming with a na- 
tive Light* fo many of them do not equal the reflex Light of 
one quarter of a Disk of lefs than a Minute Diameter. 
In this fituation Venus was found in July laft, on the tenth 
Day, about which time, when the Sun grew low, Aie was ve- 
ry plainly feen in the Day time, for many Days together ; as Aie 
might have been in the Mornings, about the latter end of Sep* 
tember . But this, arifing from the Caufes we have now ftiewn, 
is nothing uncommon ; for every eighth Year it returns again, 
fo that the Planet may be feen on the fame Day of the Month 
and Hour, very nearly in the fame place ; as all acquainted 
with the Heavenly Motions muft know. 
Laftly, it may not be amifs to note that the Equation x 
V ; m — z # has a Limit ; for if n be equal to ~ m , the 
point V will fall on B ; and the whole Disk of a Planet at that 
diftance from the Sun would be the Maximum , viz,, when in 
its fuperior Conjundion with the Sum And the like if n were 
lefs than l -m; the Arch GV infuch Cafe not interfeding the 
Semicircle##. % II. d 
