Astronomer's Alert

[ChrisKH]

Probably public knowledge but I was transfixed by the humungous star over the moon (look west) this evening on my ride home. My son says it is Venus and it does look like with binoculars that it has rings round its middle. Can anyone confirm?

Awesome if it is.

 

[rich p]

Venus, but it shouldn't have rings round it!

 

[ChrisKH]

Of course that would be Saturn!!!!!!

Complete brain fart there.

So which is it?

 

[ChrisKH]

Some website says it's Venus.

Cool nevertheless.

 

[fossyant]

Too flippin cloudy up 'ere !

 

[derall]

As I'm writing, Venus is in the west and just a couple of degrees above the horizon. It'll be setting in a few minutes.

Over to the east not long risen is Saturn. Close by Saturn is Comet C/2007 N3 (Comet Lunin), and if you have dark skies it's a naked eye object. Otherwise it's visible in binoculars. Check out Jodrell Bank's news pages for a finder chart

 

[ianrauk]

I saw that too on my commute home.. looked like the (crescent) moon was hanging by a thread under the star/planet.. looked amazing

 

[Piemaster]

Bum. missed it. I've got an advantage of being in North sea too - no light pollution

 

[buggi]

it could be a spacestation. someone showed me one the other day and it looked like a hugh star all sparkly, but its the spacestation

usually when a planet/meteor/asteroid is looming, its on the news init?

 

[cisamcgu]

it could be a spacestation. someone showed me one the other day and it looked like a hugh star all sparkly, but its the spacestation

The spacestation is visible to the naked eye, but whizzes overhead going from horizon to horizon in a matter of minutes. I doubt you would ever confuse it with a star, it is much more like a meteor (shooting star)

Thanks
Andrew

 

[cheadle hulme]

Venus has been very visible to the West for a few months now. Best time is just after dark and it hangs around for a few hours.

 

[cheadle hulme]

Spacestation should be visible for about 3 minutes tonight, but its pretty cloudy here in Manchester.

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realda...ion.cgi?country=United_Kingdom&region=England

 

[fossyant]

What he said.........

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Spacestation should be visible for about 3 minutes tonight, but its pretty cloudy here in Manchester.

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realda...ion.cgi?country=United_Kingdom&region=England

I don't wish to be rude, but when is it ever clear over Manchester?

 

[Nortones2]

When it's snowing in London. That often. But with less fuss and palaver