What's that "star" in the South Eastern sky

[Lynn_M]

I saw it yesterday (Tues 31 Aug, 2010) at 10.00 pm. from the North East of England. It's white and very bright.

[bednobs]

jupiter??

[RATTER15]

Possibly a satellite if its very bright.

[bednobs]

did it disappear? If so it was probably the space station. If it didn't move then it wasn't

[jomifl]

If it doesn't twinkle it is a planet or a satellite, if it stays in the same position relative to the surrounding stars then it is a planet. If it is in an easterly direction in the evening then it is not venus because venus is inside our orbit. It can't be mars because it is the wrong colour.That leaves jupiter or saturn, If you look at it through mid power binoculars and can see a band of up to 5 tiny stars clustered in a band very close to it then it is jupiter and they are its moons,if not then it must be saturn.

[jomifl]

look up tonights position of jupiter on google

[Count-A-Strong]

it is Jupiter.

[R1Geezer]

I think it's Mars, It should have a slightly orangey tinge. On Aug 27th it was brightest, now slowly receding.

[Robinia]

If it's in the south it's Jupiter.

[jno]

it must be tedious to live so far from civilisation you can see stars in the sky. It's all I can do to see the moon.

[Ankou]

i was out last night hunting the sky for the iss. lots of stars about.

didn't see the darn thing though. am tempted to get an air rifle for that streetlamp that kept interfering with my night vision.

[dustypuss]

TMH
http://homepage.ntlwo...nets/Jupiter-Path.htm

[beso]

R1Geezer. Surprised to see you quoting that old hoax that has been doing the rounds for years. In fact Mars is currently on the far side of its orbit and would be close to its dimmest.

Currently Mars is about three degrees (six times the diameter of the moon) from Venus in the direction toward the sun. Venus is the very bright object in the western sky during the early evening.

Jupiter rises early in the evening.

Satellites are only particularly bright when they burn up on reentry. Otherwise they don't even come near the brightness of Venus, Jupiter, Mars or even the brightest. stars.

[R1Geezer]

The hoax is the size it will appear not the appearance itself
http://earthsky.org/a...l-moon-in-august-2010

Mars is highliy visible, but it's total b0llux that it will be the size of the moon.

[R1Geezer]

Sorry not Mars, it's in the West this time, I think it was 2003 when it was in the South East. Apologies, on that basis then it must be Jupiter.

[Count-A-Strong]

Like I said at 8:13 this morning!

[jomifl]

At last jupiter has been found. must be another bloody miracle. phone the pope.

[bednobs]

"Like I said at 8:13 this morning!"


or i said at 7:36 am!

[Count-A-Strong]

Yeah but to be fair Bednobs, your answer was more of a question.

[bednobs]

i suppose so :)

[mibn2cweus]

The ISS (International Space Station) when seen under ideal conditions can approach Venus in brightness and Iridium flares can momentarily surpass Venus (typically the brightest of planets do to its proximity and apparent size) in brightness, occasionally outright specular! Not being in geostationary orbits the ISS and Iridium flares will be seen (when they do appear) in obvious motion among the stars.

Jupiter is currently approaching opposition later this month and so rises earlier in the evening (in the east) with each passing night. Jupiter is especially bright now as it is also approaching perihelion.

Venus and Mars follow the Sun setting in the west early in the evening.