Bright Star

[dukesi]

I live in Northwest Washington, next to the Canadian border and last night we had one very bright star. Now I suspect its a planet or possibly Lyria but not really sure as I have been here for four years and have never seen one that bright...but then we also get more cloud cover then anything else.<br /><br />So any idea which it was? I would sure like to know.

 

[MeteorWayne]

The brightest object in the sky right now (other than the the sun and moon) is Venus, at a dazzling magnitude -4.1. <br />It sets in the west after evening twilight.<br /><br />If you are talking about after midnight, the source would likely be Jupiter, rising in the northeast after midnight at magnitude -2.5.<br /><br />The brightest star, Sirius at magnitude -1.5 is only up in the daytime for now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[deapfreeze]

My guess was Venus as I see it every night here in south western ontario as well. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>William ( deapfreeze ) Hooper</em></font></p><p><font size="1">http://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

You really can't miss it if it's clear!!<br />I might try reading a newspaper <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[weeman]

Definitely Venus. I live in Denver and right now it sets around 10:30pm or so. Right now is a good time to view it if you have a telescope. I believe it is only going to get bigger through the view of a telescope. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Yes more than twice as big, and a thin crescent of even brighter -4.5 mag by July. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Not a bad idea, eddie. But it is kind of fun to help the newbies, and maybe bring them into the community. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[deapfreeze]

I remember I asked the same question and I was very greatful when others gave me their replies. I have no problem helping to find the answers if someone asks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>William ( deapfreeze ) Hooper</em></font></p><p><font size="1">http://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

I agree. What might be obvious to some might not be so for others. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[deapfreeze]

Some of us are fairly new to this stuff and the help is great. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>William ( deapfreeze ) Hooper</em></font></p><p><font size="1">http://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

That why we keep "The Astronomer" here <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[jwcox35]

I live in buffalo ny. I driver to work heading east on I90 every morning about 530am. I have seen a really bright star for the last month or so just above the horizon. Can you help me and tell me what I am seeing? You can't miss it. Thanks

 

[halcyondays]

Venus.

 

[qso1]

Welcome to SDC and yes, as HalcyonDays<br />mentioned, your seeing the planet Venus. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

Yup. Venus is so bright in the morning sky that you practically need sunglasses at the moment. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Welcome to the forum! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[jwcox35]

Thanks all this has been bugging me for a while now. Have a great day.

 

[ashish27]

what if thats an UFO???? :lol: (just kidding, i don't want to bug the question guy)

 

[heyscottie]

And the brightest star you can see just after sunset these days will be Jupiter, if you want to get another planet under your belt...<br /><br />It'll be southwestish above the horizon.

 

[MeteorWayne]

That is the truth.<br />When I've been out meteor observing, I can actually see the sky brighten in that direction when Venus is still behind the building.<br /><br />You can also pick up another planet, since Saturn is rising about 46 minutes later below and to the left, right next to Regulus. Of course it's nowhere as bright, but you can tell it's a planet since it doesn't twinkle as much, whereas Regulus (the dimmer of the two) twinkles a lot that low on the horizon. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

Mars was fairly low (26deg) on the horizon from my location last night (01:30ish PDT) in the ENE sky, glowing a brilliant red. Not as bright as Venus in the morning, but still awesome. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

LOL, yeah sorry forgot to mention Mars <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />He and I have become such good friends during the last month, it's almost like a background star, except that it is really fun to notice the change in position from morning to morning. It recently passed two stars at the end of Taurus, which made it really easy to see the daily motion. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

Absolutely. I've been meaning to point one of my scopes at him and do some photography, but gosh, it'll need to be a small scope or I'll be blind or blow-up the CCD. It really kinda pushes the absolute magnification of even a small 5" scope. Point the 12" at mars and that light'll punch a hole in your head. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>