Tonight, what are the bright object(s) that can be identified by Naked Eyes?

[skystar]

Could we please put them inorder of brightness.

Could we also say on which date did they start to be bright and when at its brightest and when it will be dim again.


For example,

1. MARS
started brightening on August 2005
at its brightest on October 2005
it will be dim again on February 2006


2. VENUS
started brightening on ?
at its brightest on ?
it will be dim again on ?


3. ?


4. ?

[JohnW]

Well, I can't give any dates without definitions of "bright" and "dim", but here are the current top five:

1. Moon (about to disappear for a couple of days).
2. Venus
3. Jupiter
4. Mars
5. Sirius

Jupiter and Mars are roughly the same magnitude at the moment, but Mars is beginning to fade. Jupiter's brightness doesn't vary much, and Sirius doesn't vary at all, although there are times when they are not visible in the night sky.

[aurora]

What is meant by "dim again"?

You can find a number of software programs which will tell you the magnitude of objects. I suggest downloading Carte Du Ceil (which is free).

The Pleaides is a nice naked eye object. So not all of them are single points!