Planet/star question

[todpod]

While waiting for the school bus my son noticed a bright star to the left of the moon, and we were wondering what planet or star it was. Tried searching google but didn't really find anything. Any help here?

 

[JRich]

If it was recently it was Mars.

 

[jalaram]

It's usually Venus (also called the Morning Star).

Edit: On a somewhat related note, check out this picture.

 

[shortylickens]

Venus and Jupiter make bright white lights.
Mars makes a bright red light.

 

[JRich]

http://custompcsolution.net/images/pub/starrynight.jpg

This is with Starrynight Pro at 10-19-2005 4:00AM

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: jalaram
It's usually Venus (also called the Morning Star).

Edit: On a somewhat related note, check out this picture.

aka Lucifer :evil:

 

[todpod]

it was this morning 10/19/2005, @7:15edt

 

[DrPizza]

Venus right now is near the moon.
On November 7th, Mars will be rising as the sun sets...
Earth will be in opposition with Mars (meaning the sun is one way, mars is the other) - This is the closest Earth gets to Mars in a (26?) month cycle before we go around the sun a couple of times and catch back up to Mars. Last time, Mars appeared brighter in the sky than it ever will again in any of our lifetimes (because of the shape of our orbits). I believe it was about 20% brighter than it will be this year. However, this will be the closest we get to Mars for about 18 years (iirc)

One day, I figured, "you know, those bright dots in the sky are going to be the same ones I see every time I look up on a clear night for the rest of my life (except for comets). Maybe I ought to learn what the heck they are "

 

[JRich]

The Moon is in Taurus and Mars is in Aries which are right next to each other. Venus is in Scorpius and is setting right now near the Sun.

 

[silverpig]

It's Mars.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Venus right now is near the moon.
On November 7th, Mars will be rising as the sun sets...
Earth will be in opposition with Mars (meaning the sun is one way, mars is the other) - This is the closest Earth gets to Mars in a (26?) month cycle before we go around the sun a couple of times and catch back up to Mars. Last time, Mars appeared brighter in the sky than it ever will again in any of our lifetimes (because of the shape of our orbits). I believe it was about 20% brighter than it will be this year. However, this will be the closest we get to Mars for about 18 years (iirc)

One day, I figured, "you know, those bright dots in the sky are going to be the same ones I see every time I look up on a clear night for the rest of my life (except for comets). Maybe I ought to learn what the heck they are "

Uh, I seem to recall a few days ago that Mars was near the full moon, which would be on the opposite side of the earth from Venus...