Is a large bright star really a star or is it a satellite?

Mics_chick

My mum told my 7yo DD this the other day and I just wondered if she was right?

busenbust

Phew! Wasn't a UFO at least

skylight

Its Jupiter. Hanging around for a few days.

(I assume you mean the bright thing close to the moon???!)

bondy01

Yes , it's Jupiter been around for more than a few days though. Download Stellarium (free) if you are interested in finding out what star is what. You should also be able to see the ISS tracking across the sky from (I think) later this week which reminds me , need to print off the visible passes from satscape (also free) for it.

warez22

I was always told that the brightest star in the sky was lucifer's star and you must never wish upon it as your wish would come true, but just not the way you wanted it to.

For example, you wish to come into lots of money and your parents die and you get your inheritance - that sort of thing!!!!

I know it's a load of old cobblers, but it has stuck!:D

stevemcol

Agree it's Jupiter. It's been around for a few months and will be a while longer. With an average pair of binoculars, you should be able to see up to 4 moons, seen as small stars but lined up in orbit. One of those moons has the best chance of simple life in the solar system. Jupiter itself takes on the definite form of a disc. Very nice to look at.
Satellite's tend to move very quickly across the sky.

Mics_chick

It's definitely not moving quickly so must be Jupiter Thanks peeps :A
Will did out binoculars and see if we can see the moons too

jaydeeuk1

If you have a phone with a digital compass (from iphones, to the cheapo pulse), then google sky is an excellent app. Just hold the phone up to the sky and it tells you what planet, star, nebula, galaxy etc you're looking at.

S0litaire

Usually Satellites move quite quickly across the sky (They are faster compared to a passing plane)
Planets are usually visible at dusk before you see any stars

Oh by the way Aldi's was doing a 76mm reflector Telescope today (£69.99) ^_~

bondy01

Couldn't see the moons with my cheap binoculars so got the telescope out and there is one to the right , two close together on the left and one further to the left. Gosh it's chilly out there so I came in (4 degrees C at the moment) The ISS takes roughly 10 minutes for a pass and if you can catch one when the shuttle has undocked but before the de-orbit burn then you see both of them tracking across the sky. The Aldi telescope came with Stellarium I see.

S0litaire

What would be VERY usefull is a SmartPhone with Stellarium so it can use the GPS and Compass features for a virtual heads up to see what you're looking at....

think "there's an app for that*"

*apple got a patent out on that phrase last week! i owe them 0.25c lol