Does anybody else see something INSANELY bright in the eastern sky?

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Swifterzor

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Message 664999 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 10:48:02 UTC

It's ~5:50am...and there's something brighter than anything I've ever seen in the sky, just curious as to what it is if anybody knows.
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Message 665031 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 11:17:05 UTC - in response to Message 664999.  

It's ~5:50am...and there's something brighter than anything I've ever seen in the sky, just curious as to what it is if anybody knows.

Where are you? What cardinal direction is it in? Is it moving with the apparent rotation of the other stars? :-)
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Message 665052 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 11:31:52 UTC - in response to Message 665031.  

It's ~5:50am...and there's something brighter than anything I've ever seen in the sky, just curious as to what it is if anybody knows.

Where are you? What cardinal direction is it in? Is it moving with the apparent rotation of the other stars? :-)


Its the Moon! Its the Moon! :-D ..æhh.. i think....? :p

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Message 665068 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 12:13:09 UTC - in response to Message 665031.  
Last modified: 23 Oct 2007, 12:16:01 UTC

It's ~5:50am...and there's something brighter than anything I've ever seen in the sky, just curious as to what it is if anybody knows.

Where are you? What cardinal direction is it in? Is it moving with the apparent rotation of the other stars? :-)


It seems to be straight east...about 30-40º up in the sky. I live in Wisconsin.

I actually can't see it anymore, unless I'm not looking hard enough...it did get brighter after all :|
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Message 665095 - Posted: 23 Oct 2007, 13:04:11 UTC
Last modified: 23 Oct 2007, 13:05:53 UTC

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Message 665647 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 10:02:03 UTC - in response to Message 665095.  
Last modified: 24 Oct 2007, 10:08:37 UTC

It's probably Venus or Saturn.

Space.com - Night Sky - Planets


It's there again, and I think you're right Labbie...but WOW is that bright!
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Message 665831 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 19:21:20 UTC

Venus is in the sky at that time in most places. Its magnitude is usually about -4. The Moon set here (somewhat south and a little east of Wisconsin, in the Eastern time zone) at 6:01 AM today and yesterday a little earlier. So the Moon may have already set there yesterday by 5:50 AM. It could have been an Iridium satellite, but I've never seen them. But, then, east is the wrong direction for satellites in the morning and the Moon, too. If you look east at 5:50 AM tomorrow or in several days you will see Venus if it's clear. It's up about 40 degrees shortly before sunrise but somewhat less than that at 5:50 here. The Sun rises here at about 8:01 AM tomorrow. If Iridiums have flat spots it still might be possible to see them in the east in the morning, I think.
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Message 665918 - Posted: 24 Oct 2007, 23:48:58 UTC
Last modified: 24 Oct 2007, 23:49:12 UTC

I've seen Iridiums before and they usually have noticable movement and generally increase in brightness and suddenly disappear.

I guess I'll get up early tomorrow and see what I can see. ;)


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Message 665987 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 1:52:14 UTC

I know iridium is used in gun sights to make them glow but what purpose would coating a satellite in iridium serve? What's the difference in viewing a normal non iridium sat?
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Message 665994 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 2:03:12 UTC

The Iridium Satellite network is/was a world-wide communications network of satellites. There were originally supposed to be 77 of the satellites, which is the atomic number of iridium, hence the name.


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Message 666096 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 5:08:51 UTC - in response to Message 665994.  

The Iridium Satellite network is/was a world-wide communications network of satellites. There were originally supposed to be 77 of the satellites, which is the atomic number of iridium, hence the name.

LOL. Too funny.
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Message 666333 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 13:39:02 UTC


It looked like Venus to me this morning.




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Message 666339 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 14:04:50 UTC - in response to Message 666333.  

It looked like Venus to me this morning.

Nah... Seen that too often.

It's just-got-to-be one o' them silvery UFO things!

Or at least a UAO...

And then there's that recent new comet that may yet develop in unexpected ways...

Keep searchin',
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Message 666353 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 14:43:28 UTC - in response to Message 666339.  

It looked like Venus to me this morning.

Nah... Seen that too often.

It's just-got-to-be one o' them silvery UFO things!

Or at least a UAO...

And then there's that recent new comet that may yet develop in unexpected ways...

Keep searchin',
Martin


I saw that about the comet, but it's not that bright and is in it's zenith at about 2 am, not 40 degrees up at 5 am.

Comet Holmes


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Message 666467 - Posted: 25 Oct 2007, 19:29:41 UTC

If you're almost in line with an airport runway it might be the lights of a plane. Sometimes they hang there for a couple minutes before landing.
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Message 666877 - Posted: 26 Oct 2007, 9:15:04 UTC

Yep see APOD .
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Message 667982 - Posted: 28 Oct 2007, 3:52:50 UTC
Last modified: 28 Oct 2007, 4:00:49 UTC

A distant comet has increased it's magnitude significantly. Previously not visible it is now. The Comet may have struck something, broken apart, or an unkown process is at work. Comet "Holmes" It's quite significant and is near Perseus at this time...

Enjoy it as it comes in....

Article hear

http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn12837-comet-brightens-mysteriously-by-a-factor-of-a-million.html


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Message 668979 - Posted: 29 Oct 2007, 19:01:36 UTC

Its Venus im sure
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Message 669796 - Posted: 31 Oct 2007, 2:05:28 UTC

I read about something last week, is possibly what you saw-
Naked-eye Outburst of Comet Holmes.
On Wednesday October 24th, faint little Periodic Comet Holmes (17P) underwent a gigantic outburst to shine as bright as magnitude 2.5, easily visible to the unaided eye. That day the ejection of gas and dust was still so close to the comet's nucleus as to appear starlike, as if this were a nova. But by Thursday evening the cloud had enlarged to a hazy fuzz-spot, at least in telescopes and binoculars, with a brilliant nucleus and a slight yellow-green tint.
like take off eh! to The Great White North
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Message 671306 - Posted: 3 Nov 2007, 0:52:55 UTC

Comet Holmes is in the northern direction. What he saw had to be Venus. Go to skyandtelescope.com click on Observing and you will find a number of articles on Comet Holmes. There are many pictures. I saw it Tuesday night and again last night. Binoculars are enough to show the fuzzball that it has become. It will be bright enough for a few weeks. It is not coming any closer. The reason we see it is that has brightened over a million times since expelling this vast amount of dust. The Sky and Telescope website also has what else can be seen. I expect a diagram of the dawn eastern sky can be found showing where Venus is. Good viewing. Ed
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Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Does anybody else see something INSANELY bright in the eastern sky?


 
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