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Bright light beside moon

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  • 27-01-2016 10:56pm
    #1
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,837 ✭✭✭


    There is a bright light visible above and to the left of the moon tonight, any idea what it is?


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    #2
    TheChizler
    Registered Users Posts: 9,455 ✭✭✭TheChizler


    Jupiter afaik!


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    #3
    Mech1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,111 ✭✭✭Mech1


    When i seen your op I went out and took a few pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/138838681@N04/albums/72157664036600245


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    #4
    Tigger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,705 ✭✭✭✭Tigger


    Venus no?


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    #5
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    Tigger wrote: »
    Venus no?

    Does Venus not appear at dawn?

    There's always a really light bright at dawn (sometimes two) - I always thought that was Venus (and sometimes Jupiter).


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    #6
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    It's definitely Jupiter, the King of the Planets.


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    #7
    leonffrench
    Registered Users Posts: 212 ✭✭leonffrench


    Will it still be in that kind of position tomorrow night in relation to the moon? Can't get a good view tonight through the window with telescope and it's too late to go bringing it outside. Complete beginner here btw


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    #8
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    No, it will be 6 times further away tomorrow night I'm afraid.


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    #9
    Tigger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,705 ✭✭✭✭Tigger


    HeidiHeidi wrote: »
    Does Venus not appear at dawn?

    There's always a really light bright at dawn (sometimes two) - I always thought that was Venus (and sometimes Jupiter).

    Venus is the morning star alright but I think mickeymac seems confident


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    #10
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    Yep Venus will be visible in the morning for a couple more weeks. Off now for a look myself.


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    #11
    leonffrench
    Registered Users Posts: 212 ✭✭leonffrench


    mickmackey1 wrote:
    No, it will be 6 times further away tomorrow night I'm afraid.

    Sorry for silly questions but I'm a noob. Do u know if it will still appear that reddish colour tonight and if it will be easily identifiable


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    #12
    postitnote
    Registered Users Posts: 413 ✭✭postitnote


    Hi there, if you have a smartphone then download the Skyview app:


    https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/skyview-free-explore-universe/id413936865?mt=8

    That'll show you everything that's visible in the sky, plus it's track across the sky for the next 24hrs or so. Just point your phone at the sky and off you go.


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    #13
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    leonffrench wrote: »
    Sorry for silly questions but I'm a noob. Do u know if it will still appear that reddish colour tonight and if it will be easily identifiable

    I wouldn't say Jupiter looks reddish tbh, maybe its proximity to the moon last night gave that impression. Tonight it will rise around 10 and the moon around 11 and both will still be v bright.


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    #14
    leonffrench
    Registered Users Posts: 212 ✭✭leonffrench


    mickmackey1 wrote:
    I wouldn't say Jupiter looks reddish tbh, maybe its proximity to the moon last night gave that impression. Tonight it will rise around 10 and the moon around 11 and both will still be v bright.


    Thanks a lot for your help much appreciated. Information online is never localised or concise enough


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    #15
    jfSDAS
    Registered Users Posts: 352 ✭✭jfSDAS


    Hi all,

    earthsky.org do a nice guide during the month of what's on view. Although based in the US, the info is generally good for observers in Ireland when they highlight occasions when the Moon is near the planets. The graphic for Jupiter near the Moon at http://earthsky.org/tonight/waxing-moon-closer-to-jupiter isn't quite what it looked like for us because by nightfall in the US the Moon had moved on a bit in the sky and the gap between Jupiter and itself was a bit more.

    We had a big crowd up at Dunsink Observatory last night and were blessed with clear skies for a change on an Open Night :-) Moonrise was really impressive with Jupiter to the Moon's left. As Leon commented, the colouring was a very light orange-red when low down. Orion and his retinue striding across the sky also capped off a great evening for stargazers.

    Just posting the details here again of my calendar of celestial sights during 2016 visible from Ireland. The latest version is on the IAA web site at http://irishastro.org.uk/node/144 and a link to the pdf is in the short article on that page.

    Some other links:

    http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/ ... Jodrell Bank in Cheshire's page on sky sights during the month
    http://www.skymaps.com/ ... download a pdf chart of the sky for the month
    http://astrobob.areavoices.com/ ... Bob King in the US has an excellent blog on what to look out for during the month
    http://www.spaceweather.com/ ... details of transient events and lots more happenings in the sky
    http://www.heavens-above.com/ ... space station predictions and Iridium flares for your location
    http://www.calsky.com/ ... tabular information on a bewildering range of celestial objects and phenomena

    Philips "Stargazing 2016" by Heather Couper & Nigel Henbest or Collins' "Night Sky 2016" by Wil Tirion are two excellent guides to the night sky for the year ahead. Both are around €10 from all good bookshops or online.

    John


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