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3lliot
06-05-2009, 10:30 AM
Sorry for beings so vague :D

I'm not an astronomer but I saw something very bright in the sky this morning at about 5am. It must've been about 30 degrees elevation and about 15 or 20 degrees east of north. It wasn't far from an orange thing (which I presume is mars?)

I thought it was maybe plane headlights from straight on, and when I checked it out with binoculars it looked like 2 lights next to each other, so I figured that's what it was, & decided to watch it for a while to make sure. But it didn't move, I was watching it for about 10 minutes.

Any ideas? A satellite? Maybe the dodgy binos just made it look like 2 objects, when in fact it was only one...

iceman
06-05-2009, 10:38 AM
It was Venus!

It's very bright at the moment!

Have another look tomorrow and it'll be there then, too :)

3lliot
06-05-2009, 10:41 AM
Yeah I was thinking maybe that was it just after I posted the question. It is very bright, eh...

Thanks for the answer

-E

Inmykombi
06-05-2009, 05:23 PM
I just checked Starry Night Pro and I agree with Mike.

When I saw Venus the other morning while half asleep:P, it was the brightest I have seen it for ages.

It should also be above " the orange thing " which was Mars...

Cheers.

Geoffro.

mswhin63
06-05-2009, 10:09 PM
I have seen Venus brightly lighting up in the morning sky for the last week or so. Incredibly strong especially when the sky is bright blue.

The moment the sun peeks over the horizon Venus finally disappears. It is extremely high. Too bad have been so busy working early in the morning or I would bring the scope out. But still and amazing sight.