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What's that very vivid "star" in the eastern morning sky? Right now. (Original Post) Demovictory9 Nov 2023 OP
Mars it might be but you're probably referring to Jupiter rlegro Nov 2023 #1
Venus, and Jupiter is in the western morning sky (nt) William Seger Nov 2023 #2
The Fourmiab "Your Sky" web sky map page indicates that it is Venus. John1956PA Nov 2023 #3
Very interesting stuff at that link! nt eppur_se_muova Nov 2023 #5
Thank you! Demovictory9 Nov 2023 #7
It's almost always Venus. eppur_se_muova Nov 2023 #4
*looks out my window* The Sun. sakabatou Nov 2023 #6
This was right before sunrise Demovictory9 Nov 2023 #8
Then Post #3 is correct sakabatou Nov 2023 #9
It's also possible to tell the difference between Venus and Jupiter PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2023 #10
I think I saw Jupiter tonight. Very bright too Demovictory9 Nov 2023 #11
Yes, Jupiter is up there and is very bright. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2023 #12

rlegro

(339 posts)
1. Mars it might be but you're probably referring to Jupiter
Wed Nov 1, 2023, 08:50 AM
Nov 2023

Both Mars and Jupiter are hundreds of millions of miles away but closer to Earth now than they usually are thanks to orbital mechanics. I have trouble spotting Mars, even so, but Jupiter is a very bright star right now, coming close to the usual champ in that department, Venus. which generally speaking is closer to us than either of those planets and which has a high reflectivity, like Jupiter. Mars has a lower albedo but it can often be seen as a red dot.

John1956PA

(3,374 posts)
3. The Fourmiab "Your Sky" web sky map page indicates that it is Venus.
Wed Nov 1, 2023, 09:17 AM
Nov 2023

Jupiter is in the overnight sky.

Mars and Mercury are very close to the sun.

I recommend accessing Fourmilab. Set the map for a nearby major city, and you will get a contemporaneous view of which ever celestial objects are in the field of view over your location. Here is the link: https://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/




eppur_se_muova

(37,420 posts)
4. It's almost always Venus.
Wed Nov 1, 2023, 09:21 AM
Nov 2023

Venus is sometimes visible when the sun is out -- I've even spotted it around midday.

Third brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and the Moon. In very dark countryside, it can even cast a discernible shadow.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,727 posts)
10. It's also possible to tell the difference between Venus and Jupiter
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 11:26 PM
Nov 2023

by how bright they are. Venus is noticeably brighter than Jupiter. Also, it will never be very high in the sky, whether in the morning or the evening. I believe the highest it can be is about 46 degrees. Go outside and point straight up with your arm. That's 90 degrees. So 46 degrees is half way. Lower your arm that much. Now turn around and look at the other horizon. Okay, you now know the very highest Venus can possibly be. So if you see a bright object a lot higher up, it's Jupiter. Well, it might possibly be Saturn, although Saturn is never that bright. Nor is Mars, and Mars is always noticeably red/orange. I'm not sure it's visible right now.

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