Need help identifying astronomical object

[mono]

I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I've been going out walking from about 7:30pm to 8:30pm for about the past six months. I've noticed what appears to be pink/orange light close to the horizon when looking roughly East. It's quite bright compared to most of the stars and I am hoping someone can help me identify it. What is that thing?

[ZeroID]

Sounds like Mars, bright with a reddish hue. A few days time and Mars will be it's closest ( in opposition ) to earth for a long while.

[geolindon]

g day Mono :welcome:

+1 for Mars if, at that time, you started to see it late in June.

prior to late June it may have been Antares, a red giant star - the belly of the scorpion. Antares roughly means "like Mars".

free apps are available for smart phones/devices with inbuilt compass and gyros that ID objects in the view you hold the device up to. its a great way to learn your way around, and get drawn into learning more.

regards, L

[rally]

Download Stellarium
Enter the time and date of your observation and the direction of your observation and look at the planetarium view
Click on the object and look it up
Its pretty easy

iPhone also has an app you can point the phone at an object and it will tell you what you are pointing at !

[Vartigy]

google sky maps app is handy.

and as others have mentioned, ios have equivalents as well.
Free ones.