star or a planet

[parkwatchman]

Hi just starting to get into astronomy, can anyone tell me please i seen a bright star in low in the western sky is it a star or a planet?

[Adam Cheeseman]

probably Jupiter.

Cheers,

Adam

[nytecam]

Originally Posted by parkwatchman

Hi just starting to get into astronomy, can anyone tell me please i seen a bright star in low in the western sky is it a star or a planet?

It depends when you saw it If at dusk its planet Venus the Evening Star - if its late after midnight it's planet Jupiter - they move across the sky east to west just like the sun, moon and stars. Well spotted

[Kleftiwallah]

Thanks for that. I was just wondering the same thing and I knew it wasn't Jupiter. Cheers, Tony.

[triops]

Take a loook on 'net at "stellarium" for what's about from your garden.

[Johnny81]

Whilst driving home late last night (1.00am moving south) I was greeted by a superb clear starry sky. Orion was dominating with much of Canis major also in view. Looking slightly SW there is a planet, really bright, just below Taurus or in that vicinity, I think that is Jupiter, correct? I need to look at that stellarium site.

[artdemole]

Jupiter was high in the sky very near West(ssw).Probably the brightest in the area.Eridanus (star) Is a gas giant like Jupiter that may also have been seen in the S.W.

[parkwatchman]

Originally Posted by nytecam

It depends when you saw it If at dusk its planet Venus the Evening Star - if its late after midnight it's planet Jupiter - they move across the sky east to west just like the sun, moon and stars. Well spotted

Thank you. I think it must have been Venus. I can pick out Jupiter in the night sky I have followed that planet for a few months now I can see out a couple of its moons with my binoculars. I will take a closer look at Venus it’s nice to look up into the heavens and to know the names of objects in the night sky.

[parkwatchman]

Thanks