Very bright light in the sky (2008)

[arkain101]

It has been awhile since I have observed some of the stars in the south eastern direction from my location. Tonight I saw a very very bright star that was around 5 to 10 times the size of the other stars in the sky. :)

 

I have never seen such a bright and large star. It makes me wonder, is it a super nova? I havn't heard any news about an unusual star. However, go take a look and you might see what I am talking about!!

 

I am looking for pictures right now. I would go and take a picture myself, but I am in too deep of a valley to see it. I need to take a drive to see it.

[Kharakov]

It's just the sun's light gravitationally lensed around a pair of massive black holes rapidly heading towards earth. I wouldn't worry about it.

[arkain101]

:)

 

HAHA!

[Turtle]

It has been awhile since I have observed some of the stars in the south eastern direction from my location. Tonight I saw a very very bright star that was around 5 to 10 times the size of the other stars in the sky. :eek:

 

I have never seen such a bright and large star. It makes me wonder, is it a super nova? I havn't heard any news about an unusual star. However, go take a look and you might see what I am talking about!!

 

I am looking for pictures right now. I would go and take a picture myself, but I am in too deep of a valley to see it. I need to take a drive to see it.

 

It is likely Jupiter. Edit: if it is Jupiter, then you mean SW, not SE.

 

 

 

StarDate Online | Solar System Guide | Jupiter

View in 2008

The largest planet in our solar system is a commanding presence in the night sky for much of the year. It looks like an intensely bright cream-colored star, shining brighter than anything else in the night sky except the Moon and Venus. It climbs into view in the pre-dawn sky in January. It rises earlier as the months go by, and moves into the evening sky in spring. Jupiter is at opposition in early July, when it appears brightest for the year and remains visible all night. Late in the year it is visible only in the evening sky, dropping lower each night.

[modest]

Venus is also in the southwest.

 

Jupiter makes a couple of pretty pairings with other planets in December. On Dec. 1, look toward the southwest an hour or so after sunset. The brightest "star" you see is Venus; Jupiter, not quite as bright, is slightly above and to the right, while the crescent moon floats slightly above and to the left of the planetary duo.

 

Venus rises higher throughout December, while Jupiter drops ever lower.

 

On Dec. 28, look for Mercury about three degrees below Jupiter, and the crescent moon below Mercury. By New Year's Eve, Mercury is about one degree to the left of Jupiter.

 

Dec. skywatch: Andromeda, Jupiter, Venus

 

I guess technically, they're in the southeast as well, you just can't see them there during the day.

 

This is a good sky tracker applet:

 

Sky View Cafe - Astronomy - Star Charts - Ephemeris - Planetarium

 

I wonder how google earth's sky view treats the changing positions of the planets.

 

~modest