Bright Planet/Star to the south

zerovision · 1st of October 2008 (Wed)

Sorry if this is not camera related, but I like to view the night sky with my daughters $100 telescope occassionally, but I am not sure what the bright object to the south/southwest is from my house in dallas, tx.

I know it's not Venus because the little info I found on the web says Venus is lower left of the moon just after sunset.

Tonight the moon had already set and the bright planet or star was still visible. I would say 15-20 degrees above the horizon. I thought that maybe is was Mars, but I could not confirm it via web.

Anyone know?

akillez · 2nd of October 2008 (Thu)

The planet you can see is Jupiter. Depending on the telescope you are using you may be able to make out some of its moons aswell.

zerovision · 2nd of October 2008 (Thu)

When I use a telescope, Saturn and Jupiter are at a 90 degree angle from the horizon. I have seen them with my telescope, but this is lower in the sky and I am only looking at it with the naked eye.

Nighthound · 2nd of October 2008 (Thu)

If what you were seeing is in the southwest(actually not too far from due west) just after the Moon set on the evening of Sept. 1, then it was indeed Venus just barely above the horizon. Jupiter would be about 30 degrees up from the horizon, due south at that time and have a slight yellowish cast to it. Venus is much whiter in color.

Marnault · 2nd of October 2008 (Thu)

For you location, this could pretty much only be Jupiter. Last night Venus was very close to the moon, so if the moon was set you wouldn't see Venus, or it would be very close to the horizon. At this time Jupiter would be in the South moving towards the west, it would be the brightest object in the sky, so unless the object you are talking about wasn't the brightest thing in the sky, it was Jupiter.

hawkeye60 · 2nd of October 2008 (Thu)

For anyone interested in astronomy, Stellerium is free program.

http://www.stellarium.org/

1st of October 2008 (Wed)	#1
zerovision Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas/Ft Worth area Posts: 1,097	Bright Planet/Star to the south Sorry if this is not camera related, but I like to view the night sky with my daughters $100 telescope occassionally, but I am not sure what the bright object to the south/southwest is from my house in dallas, tx. I know it's not Venus because the little info I found on the web says Venus is lower left of the moon just after sunset. Tonight the moon had already set and the bright planet or star was still visible. I would say 15-20 degrees above the horizon. I thought that maybe is was Mars, but I could not confirm it via web. Anyone know?

2nd of October 2008 (Thu)	#2
akillez Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3	Re: Bright Plaet/Star to the south The planet you can see is Jupiter. Depending on the telescope you are using you may be able to make out some of its moons aswell.

2nd of October 2008 (Thu)	#3
zerovision Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas/Ft Worth area Posts: 1,097	Re: Bright Planet/Star to the south When I use a telescope, Saturn and Jupiter are at a 90 degree angle from the horizon. I have seen them with my telescope, but this is lower in the sky and I am only looking at it with the naked eye.

2nd of October 2008 (Thu)	#4
Nighthound Cream of the Crop Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9,477	Re: Bright Planet/Star to the south If what you were seeing is in the southwest(actually not too far from due west) just after the Moon set on the evening of Sept. 1, then it was indeed Venus just barely above the horizon. Jupiter would be about 30 degrees up from the horizon, due south at that time and have a slight yellowish cast to it. Venus is much whiter in color. __________________ Steve Canon Gear: 1D Mark IV \| 1D Mark II \| 5D \| 20D \| 500L IS (f/4) \| 100-400L My Astro Gallery http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y67...OTN%20Gallery/

2nd of October 2008 (Thu)	#5
Marnault Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 112 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Bright Planet/Star to the south For you location, this could pretty much only be Jupiter. Last night Venus was very close to the moon, so if the moon was set you wouldn't see Venus, or it would be very close to the horizon. At this time Jupiter would be in the South moving towards the west, it would be the brightest object in the sky, so unless the object you are talking about wasn't the brightest thing in the sky, it was Jupiter. __________________ Canon 400D & 40D - Sigma 10-20 F4-5.6 - Canon 17-55mm F2.8 IS - Canon 28-105mm F3.5-4.5 - Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 - Canon 50mm F1.8 - Canon 100mm F2.0 - Canon 400mm F5.6

2nd of October 2008 (Thu)	#6
hawkeye60 Goldmember Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 2,079 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Bright Planet/Star to the south For anyone interested in astronomy, Stellerium is free program. http://www.stellarium.org/ __________________ It's a lens not a lense! The truest test of character is what you do when you think no one is looking.

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