What was that bright object near Scorpius last night?

[BENHINSPETER (Ben)]

Gday All,


Was checking out the skies with my bino's last night (around 9pm) up here in NT and couldnt identify a brilliant object below Scorpius (was maybe 20deg up from the horizon).


My planishphere doesnt show any particular bright objects in that area and astronomy 2012 describes pluto rising in the east but this object was way too bright to be pluto...Venus setting is meant to be in the West, Mars is North and Saturn near Spica...


Yours in Confusion (not to be mistaken for confuscion...I'm fundamentally taoist)


Ben.

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

This is a screen grab from Starry Night for your location, set for last night at 2100hrs.

If you can see the object and then give a grid reference, I can then look it up for you.

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Hi Ben,

Just to clarify the circumstances at the time... if it was around 20-degrees above the horizon, that would put it roughly between the horizon and Scorpius, so I guess it was amongst the Milky Way? (Antares is about 40-degress above the horizon at that time of the night).

Was it stationary or did it move? how long was it there for? Any estimate of magnitude? I presume by your other examples it was as bright as the bright planets (approaching mag 1 or 0?).

Cheers,
Stephen

(edit: opps sorry Stu you beat me by a bee's whatsit)

[BENHINSPETER (Ben)]

Thanks Gents,

As Im new to the whole game, I cant guarentee specific accurate details, but Id say Stephen that by your map you attached, the bright item was closer to Pavo and yes as bright as say Mars or Betelgeuse.

Cheers,

ben.

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

The more help the better Stephen.

Maybe this image will help....

[BENHINSPETER (Ben)]

I will have another look tonight and provide more accurate details of its position

Thanks again.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Hi Ben , I am at the moment working night shift ( 6 pm -6am) at the DLNG plant here in Darwin ,
I am a local ( Palmy ) and as the shut is on and most of the lights are off , and all of the work is out side , I am using this time to enjoy the night sky , all night long . ( as well as working , of course )
Its dinner time for me now at the moment , 745am .
But I did not notice anything out of the ordinary the other night , but mate , please keep on looking .
You did spot something and now we all gota suss what it was .
A direct on meteor ? , Satalite flash ? the main thing Ben is that you are out enjoying the night sky . .
Brian.

[BENHINSPETER (Ben)]

OK I worked it out...

I downloaded Stellarium (which I am very impressed with btw!!!), went outside to have another look at this bright object again and get my bearings. Came inside to see what Stellarium would show me and there it is....Antares! (Well done Stephen)

When I was looking at my planishere, Scorpius seemed much higher in the sky than my actual latitude is but stellarium knowing my actual coordinates shows scorpius almost dipping under the horizon, which is why I thought it was not Antares.

So what did I learn?
1. know how your lattitude effects your planishphere horizon looking nth or sth...
2. When I move to Tassie in 3 months, it's gonna give me a whole lotta new sky to look at! South at least...

Thanks Guys! Your encouragement is just what I need!

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Good to hear Ben. Antares has a nice red hue to it - the heart of the scorpion!

Glad we could put on our collective hats and nut it out.

[Wookie (Ryan)]

Good stuff guys!
This is what this forum and community is all about.