Who's an Astronomer?

[JamesM]

Its a clear sky where I am tonight (Lincolnshire) and the moon looks amazing, I can see the shadowed side with my naked eye. There's also a big, bright orange star underneath it that hasn't moved and I haven't cracked open any tins tonight so I'm sure other people must be able to see it too. Does anyone know if it's a planet, and if so which one?

[F93]

It might be Jupiter, I think that's in the sky around this time of year. If you get binoculars or something you'll be able to see it clearer.


Saturn's meant to be around the sky too, somewhere to the left and up a bit from the moon. I think.

[Blue Meanie]

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance

Looks like it is Venus you are seeing...
http://earthsky.org/tag/tonight

Edited by Blue Meanie on Friday 16th April 21:18

[TomE]

Venus I think....mercury should be somewhere around its 4 o'clock too.

ETA - Just realised that's what the link above says...apologies I should have clicked on that first!

OP if you have an iphone then download distant suns, its a very cool astronomy app which tells you what's where in the sky at your current location.

Edited by TomE on Friday 16th April 21:20

[nellyleelephant]

Certainly Venus, you'd be bale to make out Mercury too with a pair of small binoculars (when I say make out, I mean it would be a little point of light!)

[Blue Meanie]

TomE said:

Venus I think....mercury should be somewhere around its 4 o'clock too.

ETA - Just realised that's what the link above says...apologies I should have clicked on that first!

OP if you have an iphone then download distant suns, its a very cool astronomy app which tells you what's where in the sky at your current location.

Edited by TomE on Friday 16th April 21:20

I have that app, it it is very good indeed. I used it at sea, and it was very accurate.

[JamesM]

Thanks guys. I'm going to go and hunt down some binos and try and find out if that iPhone app exists for Blackberry.

[Blue Meanie]

http://microsky.en.softonic.com/blackberry

From the ipod app, (location set to Belfast, as it;s the first UK place it got to)

Edited by Blue Meanie on Friday 16th April 21:38

[JamesM]

Amazing. Thank you

[nellyleelephant]

Or, download a free program called stellarium.

This will let you go forwards and backwards in time and move in real time to show you what's going on in the night sky. Also has a lot of deep sky features with pics too.

Very handy!

[Sheets Tabuer]

Yup

http://www.stellarium.org/

Been using it for years

[Malx]

nellyleelephant said:

Or, download a free program called stellarium.

This will let you go forwards and backwards in time and move in real time to show you what's going on in the night sky. Also has a lot of deep sky features with pics too.

Very handy!

Awesome app, well worth an install.

[Puggit]

We are in a truly amazing period at the moment where all planets are viewable in one night.

Saturn is up there somewhere at the moment, and Venus and Mercury are obvious at sunset. Jupiter can be seen towards dawn.

Neptune and Uranus are trickier to spot with the naked eye!

Edited by Puggit on Friday 16th April 21:55

[nellyleelephant]

I was at my local astronomy society wednesday and we managed a very small Mars (you could just make out polar caps) but a fantastic Saturn through a 10" dobsonian, through the 16" SCT it was fantastic, cloud bands were visible and you could make out the shadow of the rings on the surface of the planet.

[Blue Meanie]

I tend to use a gun scope to peer at the stars with!

[JamesM]

Blue Meanie said:

I tend to use a gun scope to peer at the stars with!

I've just been outside using my air rifle's scope to have a gander.

[nellyleelephant]

JamesM said:

Blue Meanie said:

I tend to use a gun scope to peer at the stars with!

I've just been outside using my air rifle's scope to have a gander.

Invest in a pair of these http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?pro... and you'll have the same userbility (if that's a word) but you'll be abe to pick out a fair few bright galaxies.

[cazzer]

With mars moving into jupiter and uranus in retrograde, pay close attention to family issues — they are closer to the surface and somewhat easier to deal with. Your own energy is best spent listening and absorbing new information, so play it safe.

[nellyleelephant]

cazzer said:

With mars moving into jupiter and uranus in retrograde, pay close attention to family issues — they are closer to the surface and somewhat easier to deal with. Your own energy is best spent listening and absorbing new information, so play it safe.

Tread verrrrry carefully!!

[cazzer]

nellyleelephant said:

cazzer said:

With mars moving into jupiter and uranus in retrograde, pay close attention to family issues — they are closer to the surface and somewhat easier to deal with. Your own energy is best spent listening and absorbing new information, so play it safe.

Tread verrrrry carefully!!

Even with the big cheesy smiley you still couldn't let it pass could ya