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Does anybody else see something INSANELY bright in the eastern sky?
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Author | Message |
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Swifterzor Send message Joined: 16 Aug 07 Posts: 8 Credit: 23,678 RAC: 0 |
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. |
Scary Capitalist Send message Joined: 21 May 01 Posts: 7404 Credit: 97,085 RAC: 0 |
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? :-) Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data! I did NOT authorize this belly writing! |
AriZonaMoon* Send message Joined: 26 Apr 06 Posts: 5556 Credit: 1,541,289 RAC: 0 |
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. Its the Moon! Its the Moon! :-D ..æhh.. i think....? :p |
Swifterzor Send message Joined: 16 Aug 07 Posts: 8 Credit: 23,678 RAC: 0 |
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. 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 :| |
Labbie Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 4083 Credit: 5,930,102 RAC: 0 |
It's probably Venus or Saturn. Space.com - Night Sky - Planets Calm Chaos Forum...Join Calm Chaos Now |
Swifterzor Send message Joined: 16 Aug 07 Posts: 8 Credit: 23,678 RAC: 0 |
It's probably Venus or Saturn. It's there again, and I think you're right Labbie...but WOW is that bright! |
Clyde C. Phillips, III Send message Joined: 2 Aug 00 Posts: 1851 Credit: 5,955,047 RAC: 0 |
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. |
Labbie Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 4083 Credit: 5,930,102 RAC: 0 |
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. ;) Calm Chaos Forum...Join Calm Chaos Now |
Scary Capitalist Send message Joined: 21 May 01 Posts: 7404 Credit: 97,085 RAC: 0 |
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? Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data! I did NOT authorize this belly writing! |
Labbie Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 4083 Credit: 5,930,102 RAC: 0 |
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. Calm Chaos Forum...Join Calm Chaos Now |
Scary Capitalist Send message Joined: 21 May 01 Posts: 7404 Credit: 97,085 RAC: 0 |
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. Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data! I did NOT authorize this belly writing! |
Labbie Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 4083 Credit: 5,930,102 RAC: 0 |
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ML1 Send message Joined: 25 Nov 01 Posts: 20142 Credit: 7,508,002 RAC: 20 |
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 See new freedom: Mageia Linux Take a look for yourself: Linux Format The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3) |
Labbie Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 4083 Credit: 5,930,102 RAC: 0 |
It looked like Venus to me this morning. 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 Calm Chaos Forum...Join Calm Chaos Now |
Clyde C. Phillips, III Send message Joined: 2 Aug 00 Posts: 1851 Credit: 5,955,047 RAC: 0 |
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. |
The Gas Giant Send message Joined: 22 Nov 01 Posts: 1904 Credit: 2,646,654 RAC: 0 |
Yep see APOD . |
edjcox Send message Joined: 20 May 99 Posts: 96 Credit: 5,878,353 RAC: 0 |
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 Never engage stupid people at their level, they then have the home court advantage..... |
skynrrdd Send message Joined: 27 Oct 07 Posts: 1 Credit: 9,946 RAC: 0 |
Its Venus im sure |
blarg Send message Joined: 12 Mar 03 Posts: 319 Credit: 7,805,171 RAC: 9 |
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 |
Edward Lee Michau Send message Joined: 31 Jul 06 Posts: 138 Credit: 9,640,846 RAC: 0 |
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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