big bright star in the sky

CyberJuice

Hi guys

last night the 3rd november i was lookin up into the sky and i saw a huge bright light coming from some star or planet or something,its brighter than anything ive ever seen in the sky before,couldnt figure out what it was,i watched it for about 15 mins and it didnt not move,the sky was so clear could see all the stars

anyone any idea what it was,was it just the north star or was it something else,ive seen the north star before,i know its the brightest star in the sky but this seemed really really bright

charlemont

Jupiter maybe.

Teddy455

It was probably Jupiter it is usually visible and is quiet bright.

Pinklady11

I was viewing it last night through my telescope. Here's a picture I took of it. The small stars either side could only be seen through the telescope not with the naked eye.

I'm fairly new to astronomy so I wasn't sure if it was a planet or just a star. Maybe someone here could tell me.

MiNdGaM3

Pinklady11 wrote: »

I was viewing it last night through my telescope. Here's a picture I took of it. The small stars either side could only be seen through the telescope not with the naked eye.

I'm fairly new to astronomy so I wasn't sure if it was a planet or just a star. Maybe someone here could tell me.

My guess is that's Jupiter and 3 of it's moons.

Drake66

Pinklady11 wrote: »

I was viewing it last night through my telescope. Here's a picture I took of it. The small stars either side could only be seen through the telescope not with the naked eye.

I'm fairly new to astronomy so I wasn't sure if it was a planet or just a star. Maybe someone here could tell me.

Nice work. They are Jupiter's moons.

Pinklady11

I'm thrilled that it was a planet. I did suspect as much as it was so bright. Thats the first time I've viewed a planet through the telescope. Fingers crossed for clear skies tonight and I'll be back out viewing again and hopefully get some more pictures!

RufustheKing

Pinklady11 wrote: »

I'm thrilled that it was a planet. I did suspect as much as it was so bright. Thats the first time I've viewed a planet through the telescope. Fingers crossed for clear skies tonight and I'll be back out viewing again and hopefully get some more pictures!

Hi mate i am newer to astronomy than you and was wondering what rig did you use to get that picture and know of any places in to get eye pieces for my telescope. i am look for a barlow lense as well.

Pinklady11

Rig? I have a short tube newtonian scope like this


All I did was hold my digital camera up the the eyepiece and started snapping! (Yes I'm a real amateur ) In fairness I took about 20 pics and that was the best one. I am looking into getting a proper camera for it.

Try this place for buying your gear http://astronomy.ie/shop/. I haven't actually bought anything off them yet but plan to soon.

endacl

Pinklady11 wrote: »

I was viewing it last night through my telescope. Here's a picture I took of it. The small stars either side could only be seen through the telescope not with the naked eye.

I'm fairly new to astronomy so I wasn't sure if it was a planet or just a star. Maybe someone here could tell me.

Those 'small stars' are three of the satellites (io, Europa, ganymede, and callisto) that got Galileo into a spot of bother with the cardinals. Follow them of a series of nights and you'll notice the positions change as they orbit the planet. If you use a Droid phone, you can download the free 'where is io?' app, that will identify them in realtime. Wrap up well. It's getting chilly out there!

Pinklady11

endacl wrote: »

Those 'small stars' are three of the satellites (io, Europa, ganymede, and callisto) that got Galileo into a spot of bother with the cardinals. Follow them of a series of nights and you'll notice the positions change as they orbit the planet. If you use a Droid phone, you can download the free 'where is io?' app, that will identify them in realtime. Wrap up well. It's getting chilly out there!

Thanks for that endacl. I was out again last night and spent a bit longer viewing it. I was able to make out some details on Jupiter. Absolutely amazing! I'm on a real buzz here!!!

muskyj

@ OP
just want to clear up something for you. the brightest object bar the moon in the night sky at the moment is the planet jupiter. its in the east after dark. The North Star is only of average brightness. it is visible all night and all year round. the only reason it is so 'special' is that it is the closest star to the celestial north pole (if you took an imaginary line from the north pole straight up to the stars it would point very close to the north star). its a useful star if you want to find which direction north is!

on jupiter. have seen some fantastic views of it over the last few nights. actually saw europa pass out from in front of jupiters disc the night before last, could see its shadow on the disc also. spotted the great red spot last night. good views of the major cloud belts too. couple of good clear nights forecast so make the most of it.

Rubecula

CyberJuice wrote: »

Hi guys

last night the 3rd november i was lookin up into the sky and i saw a huge bright light coming from some star or planet or something,its brighter than anything ive ever seen in the sky before,couldnt figure out what it was,i watched it for about 15 mins and it didnt not move,the sky was so clear could see all the stars

anyone any idea what it was,was it just the north star or was it something else,ive seen the north star before,i know its the brightest star in the sky but this seemed really really bright

Just to confirm what muskyj said. If you have viwed the brightest star you can find in the sky, it is NOT the North Star.

The North star lies almost equally between the constellations of the Great Bear (Ursa Major) and Cassiopeae. This is the one that looks like a sort of bent 'W'.

Frankly it is a bit faint and not very impressive, but it is the brightet star in that bit of sky (not saying much there though as the patch of sky seems devoid of anything of note to see with the naked eye.)

Anything that seems to be particularly bright is usually not a star (With perhaps exception of Betelgeuse or Rigel, but they are quite low in the sky or even below the horizon depending on when you view them) In fact bright objects are usually one of the planets, mainly Venus, Jupiter, Mars or Saturn. Venus and Jupiter being the brightest things you will see apart from the sun and moon. (I am not including the ISS as any satellite will be obvious as you can watch it moving across the sky)

Hope that helps.

Rubecula

Pinklady11 wrote: »

Thanks for that endacl. I was out again last night and spent a bit longer viewing it. I was able to make out some details on Jupiter. Absolutely amazing! I'm on a real buzz here!!!

That first sort of thrill you get is wonderful isn't it. I am quite jealous of you because I know what sort of things you still have to do for the first time and I remember when I had those same feelings.

Always take a flask of a hot drink with you as sometimes you will need a little break away from the scop to warm up and a hot drink is wonderful. But keep it well clear of the scope itself, steam and heat you know... LOL

Clear skies Pinklady and have fun.

Plug

Just back in from a night of viewing Jupiter and four of its moons, our moon and Pleiades. The new scope is great, some great views of Jupiter through the 10mm eye peice, I could clearly see the cloud bands and the great red spot. Im well thrilled, its probably the best views I have ever gotten of Jupiter:)

endacl

Plug wrote: »

Just back in from a night of viewing Jupiter and four of its moons, our moon and Pleiades. The new scope is great, some great views of Jupiter through the 10mm eye peice, I could clearly see the cloud bands and the great red spot. Im well thrilled, its probably the best views I have ever gotten of Jupiter:)

Ha! Hooked! One less o' them, one more of us!

RedRaven

endacl wrote: »

Ha! Hooked! One less o' them, one more of us!

I got up really early the other morning, thought Id heard the door bell and looked out of the bedroom window.. nobody there but man did I get a suprise...must have been Jupiter as Id never seen a brighter star...fantastic.

So want to get me a good telescope....funds are the issue but I love the posts keep em coming please.

What can we expect tonight guys??

marketty

It's pretty cool knowing I'm looking at Jupiter these evenings, I'm constantly pointing it out to whoever I'm with! I use the sky view app for iPhone, it's deadly. Only viewing with the naked eye at the mo but thinking of saving up for a good scope, always had an interest in space, what would be a guideline price for a beginner scope, I'm thinking if I spent €1000 I'd be pretty wel set up for a few years anyway?
OP I thinks it's gas that you were able to get such a great snap of Jupiter and some of its moons without knowing what you were looking at, fair play!

calabi yau

Plug wrote: »

Just back in from a night of viewing Jupiter and four of its moons, our moon and Pleiades. The new scope is great, some great views of Jupiter through the 10mm eye peice, I could clearly see the cloud bands and the great red spot. Im well thrilled, its probably the best views I have ever gotten of Jupiter:)

Hi.Plug, I think you have the same scope as me. I can make out 2 of the dark cloud bands, like 2 brown stripes across the planet but have yet to see the great red spot. My scope has never been collimated though so maybe that would help. Either that or it just hasnt been in view.

How long does it take Jupiter to revolve?

endacl

calabi yau wrote: »

Plug wrote: »

Just back in from a night of viewing Jupiter and four of its moons, our moon and Pleiades. The new scope is great, some great views of Jupiter through the 10mm eye peice, I could clearly see the cloud bands and the great red spot. Im well thrilled, its probably the best views I have ever gotten of Jupiter:)

Hi.Plug, I think you have the same scope as me. I can make out 2 of the dark cloud bands, like 2 brown stripes across the planet but have yet to see the great red spot. My scope has never been collimated though so maybe that would help. Either that or it just hasnt been in view.

How long does it take Jupiter to revolve?

It doesn't revolve. It rotates. ;-) In slightly under 10 hours. This is the fastest rotation period of any solar system object, and gives it that slightly bulge appearance at the equator.

endacl

marketty wrote: »

It's pretty cool knowing I'm looking at Jupiter these evenings, I'm constantly pointing it out to whoever I'm with! I use the sky view app for iPhone, it's deadly. Only viewing with the naked eye at the mo but thinking of saving up for a good scope, always had an interest in space, what would be a guideline price for a beginner scope, I'm thinking if I spent €1000 I'd be pretty wel set up for a few years anyway?
OP I thinks it's gas that you were able to get such a great snap of Jupiter and some of its moons without knowing what you were looking at, fair play!

You'd be remarkably well set up! You'd be well advised to progress through a decent pair of 10x50 binos first though. Rite of passage and all that... It would also give you an opportunity to figure out what aspects you're most interested in, and them spend your grand in a more focused fashion.

marketty

cool thanks, I don't have a grand lying round (who does?!) so might 'look into' a decent set of binos first!

RedRaven

marketty wrote: »

cool thanks, I don't have a grand lying round (who does?!) so might 'look into' a decent set of binos first!

Get them in Al's place he does a great set of binos.....they are white with pink thick lenses. :P

Plug

calabi yau wrote: »

Hi.Plug, I think you have the same scope as me. I can make out 2 of the dark cloud bands, like 2 brown stripes across the planet but have yet to see the great red spot. My scope has never been collimated though so maybe that would help. Either that or it just hasnt been in view.

How long does it take Jupiter to revolve?

I probably was behind Jupiter, the great red spot. As for collimated the scope, it is important that you do it do these scopes more frequent than a regular scope because of the telescopic flex-tube design. I haven't done mine yet but I should/probably will buy a laser collimator.

endacl

Plug wrote: »

calabi yau wrote: »

Hi.Plug, I think you have the same scope as me. I can make out 2 of the dark cloud bands, like 2 brown stripes across the planet but have yet to see the great red spot. My scope has never been collimated though so maybe that would help. Either that or it just hasnt been in view.

How long does it take Jupiter to revolve?

I probably was behind Jupiter, the great red spot. As for collimated the scope, it is important that you do it do these scopes more frequent than a regular scope because of the telescopic flex-tube design. I haven't done mine yet but I should/probably will buy a laser collimator.

Ah, you shouldn't have to do it too often unless your planning photography. Part of the fun of this hobby is the opportunity to tinker with stuff. Try making your own perfectly serviceable collimator from an old 35mm film canister before handing out cash. You'll find instructions online. S'fun. On a serious note, try avoiding spending too much too soon as you'll find (as I did) that you have bought (a) something you don't really use/need, or (b) could have waited till you needed it and bought a better one! Far too much tempting gadgetry available...and I want it all!

Don't waste cash on a specialised red light. Rear bicycle lights have been available for years! And are much cheaper!

Plug

DIY job you reckon? I may try that some time so. Thanks

CyberJuice

hey guys,id really like to be able to view all these moons and res spots and rings and such but i dont have big budgets

what equipment is needed to view it decently and what equipment is needed for good photos of it?

do i need telescope or binoculars or a high end digital camera?im a noob with anything to do with star gazing

endacl

CyberJuice wrote: »

hey guys,id really like to be able to view all these moons and res spots and rings and such but i dont have big budgets

what equipment is needed to view it decently and what equipment is needed for good photos of it?

do i need telescope or binoculars or a high end digital camera?im a noob with anything to do with star gazing

Oh man! Little question demanding a biiiiiggg answer.... Start with Mk1 Eyeball, progress to good all-round binoculars (10x50 an excellent starting aperture). combine these with a good book. Patrick Moore's 'exploring the night sky with binoculars' and/or guy consalnalgo's 'turn left at Orion' both highly recommended. Get to know your way around the sky. at this point you still have change out of €100. Join a local club. This is traditionally a very open and friendly hobby. People tend to be happy to welcome beginners. you'll pick it up in no time. Figure out what your interested in and you'll be better equipped to decide what year you need. I wish somebody had given me the advice to start small with equipment, and gradually progress! Simple after that. Spend many happy nights freezing' y our nuts off and cursing the clouds.;-)

CyberJuice

thank you for the reply,any advice on shops in the city centre where i can buy the stuff??..

as it happens i have an old pair of 10 x 50 binoculars lying around,so i just went out for 20 minutes and had a look at the sky,really hard to steady them with my hand but i did get a decent enough view of the moon,as for jupiter,its no good,i cant get any kind of a view with the binoculars,its still just a bright spot,really hard to get a good focus on jupiter also,the binoculars are real old and have been lying in a drawer for about a decade so mayb i cant get a good focus due to that. i put my mobile phone up to the lens and snapped some shots of the moon,i was pretty impressed with the pic for such bad equipment i was using

stoneill

When using binocs make sure you set them up properly.
Get the eye spacing correct - you field of view through the binocs should be a circle - not a figure of eight on it's side such as you see in films.
Get the focus right for your eyes.
There is usually a right eye adjustment ring.
Close the right eye - use the center focus adjust to get a distant object into focus. The swap eyes, open the right and close the left. use the right eye adjustment right to get the same object into focus - don't use the center focus adjust.
Now the Binocs are set for your eyes - Happy viewing!

Oscar Bravo

Good viewing out there tonight,although it is getting a little windy.A very bright moon.