What planet was it?

[VixS]

We were travelling south down the M18/M1 on Sunday evening and as the sun was setting, there was a very bright, and what looked like large, star/planet.

We were heading south for the majority of the journey 4pm-6pm and the star/planet was directly infront of us. I breifly saw orions belt to the east before the cloud set in as the sun set fully.

Can someone tell me what it was.

Vix

[Lance Morgan]

If you could not see another bright star it was most likely Venus. There are 5 stars/planets at the moment but the brightest is VENUS.

[carlos_dfc]

Yep - in that position it would most definitely have been Venus.

Mercury and Jupiter are also currently southeast, just after the sun sets - but they set so close behind the Sun, that they are almost lost in the bright background sky - a casual observer would be unlikely to notice them.

Saturn is also coming to prominence over the next few months - but is currently rising quite late, from the west, and isn't in a good position to view, until quite late on.

Venus is VERY bright and prominent at the moment - brightest thing in the sky by a long way (after the Sun and Moon)
If you have binoculars take a look - it shows phases like the Moon, and is currently at about half-phase.
10x binocs will show the phase - looks like a tiny half-moon - and over the next couple of months, will gradually shrink to a crescent.

[nytecam]

Mercury and Jupiter are currently too close to the sun to observe but you can view Jupiter on the SOHO C3 camera at SOHO LASCO C3 Latest Image
Jupiter is the bright 'star' left of the artificially eclipsed sun in centre as it passes behind the sun - Jupiter is moving right

[VixS]

Thanx all, I have now commandeered my brothers telescope and am waiting for a clear night to do some proper star gazing



Vix