Star or Planet ?

[Adrienne]

I woke up this morning while it was still dark outside, and for some reason I looked out the window. I saw this light in the sky, which seemed brighter than a star and was wondering, if I saw a planet ? Is there one that is supposed to be visible now ?

No scientific calculations, but the moon was to my right then slightly below and to the left of the moon was a very bright star, then quite a ways away .... and to the lower left of this star was the bright light I saw.

Dream Angel xx

[shadedragon]

Here you go ;)
http://www.wwu.edu/skywise/planets.html
it'll tell you all the planet positions according to where you are and the info you put in

[fire]

I think Venus is one of the brightest stars on the night sky? Usually the first to be seen at eve, followed by Jupiter; also visible at dawn before the sun rises. You can find some more details about their current courses here.

[Adrienne]

Thank you shadedragon & fire ! It was Venus. Picture compliments of Earthsky.org .

Funny you should write about what you saw maybe being a planet. Last night I saw a show about the scientist who proved that we cannot see planets with the naked eye because the star is revolving around the planet and what we are seeing when we look is the "star" (I hope I interpreted what he said correctly)

[Adrienne]

hee hee, my eye wasn't naked, it was dressed !

Originally Posted by merrie

Funny you should write about what you saw maybe being a planet. Last night I saw a show about the scientist who proved that we cannot see planets with the naked eye because the star is revolving around the planet and what we are seeing when we look is the "star" (I hope I interpreted what he said correctly)

Is that like a mirror. We never really see the mirror but only the reflection it makes. So when we see Venus we are only seeing the light of the Star relecting of the planet and not really the planet. Have I understood it right or am I far off

A good way to judge... planets don't 'twinkle' like stars do.

Is that like a mirror. We never really see the mirror but only the reflection it makes. So when we see Venus we are only seeing the light of the Star relecting of the planet and not really the planet. Have I understood it right or am I far off

I don't know...I need somebody to explain it to me. All I know is the scientist was doing an experiment, showing a tennis ball on a rope going around a round object. Your answer does make sense. The tennis ball in the experiment was supposed to be a star going around a planet.

Merrie

So we can even wonder if anyone can even see us or if they just see the light reflecting upon us. In complete darkness we are invisible