Anyone else see an extremely bright 'star' tonight?

[Electrode]

I was just doing something outside a minute ago, and I couldn't help but notice an EXTREMELY bright light in the sky towards the west. Anyone else see it?

And for that matter, what might it be? Venus? Satellite? Aliens?

 

[slick230]

Uranus.

 

[oniq]

Gigantic star heading our way!

 

[AvesPKS]

Hmm, I'll have to check, although I usually can't see any stars from where I'm at.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Some of the planets are in view.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

it's the international space station

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html

it's been there for awhile, and at the moment, it's the brightest thing in the night sky next to the moon

thread about it:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1243472&

 

[Bassyhead]

a comet thats gonna smack us into oblivion

 

[myusername]

According to their page, the ISS shouldn't be visible to Electrode until ~5am

Edit: Would check myself but I have no idea which way is west and poor visibility in all directions anyway.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

http://www.djcash.demon.co.uk/astro/webcam/spacecraft.htm

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

It's Venus

 

[TheBDB]

If it was moving it could be the ISS. Jupiter and Saturn are the brightests objects when they are visible.

 

[Descartes]

It is, without a doubt, Venus. ISS isn't close to being as bright. Jupiter is exceptionally bright as well, but it would have been just about 45 degrees above the horizon from the east at the time you posted this.

On another note, I just got back from spending about 2 hours searching for the comet C/2001 Q4; I found it.

 

[shimsham]

dude, thats the moon....

 

[Schadenfroh]

pics?

 

[IcemanJer]

dammit it's been raining here all evening.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
pics?

Here you go. I mspaint'd a little arrow in there for ya.