question for anyone who knows.

[angeltoday2004]

hey um, last night i was looking into the sky and saw a bright star by the moon, i have a feeling that it was a planet but i am not sure which one can anyone tell me if any planets were there last night, one that would be visible to the naked eye.
please email me if you have anyinfo.thank you!
angeltoday2004@yahoo.com

[Big Brother Dunk]

It seems as if you're not the only one.

Check out this link to a thread in Observational Astronomy Forum: What in the World (http://www.universetoday.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7507)

[Dave Mitsky]

What you saw was the planet Jupiter.

See the entry in my monthly calendar (which is pinned at the top of this forum) for that date as well as http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/wh...05.html?1652005 (http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/whatsup_may16_2005.html?1652005)

Dave Mitsky

[Gneiss]

As Dave said... Jupiter

I managed to capture this picture before the clouds came over.

http://www.seeviewo.org/seeview/ourimages/photos/Img_0866a.jpg

[Dave Mitsky]

I just came across some images of Thursday's lunar occultation of Jupiter, which was visible only from parts of south Africa and northern South American. They can be seen at http://lunar.astrodatabase.net/

Dave Mitsky

[Planetwatcher]

I thought it might have been Jupiter, or Mars. But Mars is currently rising later in the night. However I noticed it too, and was reminded of a couple years back when Mars was so close to the Moon, that it looked like it might be a moon of the Moon.

[mhansen2]

Originally posted by angeltoday2004@May 20 2005, 06:44 PM
hey um, last night i was looking into the sky and saw a bright star by the moon, i have a feeling that it was a planet but i am not sure which one can anyone tell me if any planets were there last night, one that would be visible to the naked eye.
please email me if you have anyinfo.thank you!
angeltoday2004@yahoo.com
The next time, look at the object with binoculars. There's a good chance you'll be able to see at least one of the Galilean moons; Io, Europa, Ganymede and/or Callisto. A dead giveaway it's Jupiter.

Mike

[nomadicdemon]

Hey I remember seeing it, but I just passed it by cuz I thought it was just a star, and then my bro is all like, dude?! it's wayy too bright to be a star, and I was like..hey, your right, and we pulled out da tele. and it was planet!!! krazee man, krazee

[Capella]

Yes - by using binoculars its amazing how your view of something can imporve. Jupiter really isa an amazing planet to study, whether you have a large telescope or simply a pair of binoculars. If you don't have a pair of binoculars, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful pairs out there! Happy sky watching! :)