h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

From where i'm sat, the star is about to little finger widths away from the right side of the moon

Is that the space station? or is it a planet? or ust a big star that i've never noticed before?

I've noticed that a few times in recent weeks. I think it must be a planet, but I'm not sure which one.

Someone who knows a bit about astronomy will no doubt be along in a mo...

I've been wondering what that is too..very pretty isn't it..

Too cloudy over Manchester

It's probably aliens

Just been to look it up - apparently, both Venus and Jupiter are visible at the moment. My bet is Jupiter - I've no proof, I just think it is.

I can't see it anymore

hmm, must have gone over house, i'm not going on the roof again
I thought i heard someone mention on here a while back that it was Jupiter, but can't remember who or where

But then someone in RL said it could be the spacestation

The moon is just behind the white panel on the window. I didn't crane my neck too far

But it's gone all foggy now, so i can't see the star/jupiter/venus/space station

It's Jupiter. If you have binoculars you might be able to see four larger moons, dusty bands across its surface and the Great Red Spot.

I'll take a look wen the clouds clear

This might help. http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/moon_jupiter_together.html?332004

The clouds cleared a bit just now so i took a look, it's really bright! But i couldn't see the moons or anythingfor the link, i'm reading it now

Having just consulted my Sky-Map I can categorically say that it is Jupiter. Jupiter is particularly bright at the moment because the Earth, Sun and Jupiter are almost in a straight line with the Earth in the middle.

Venus at the moment can only be seen immediately after sunset very low on the Horizon. It will get brighter and can be seen higher in the sky in the coming weeks.

This is not a good time of the year to see the ISS from the UK. Summer is best shortly after sunset or just before. Then when you see it you will know what it is. It only takes 6 minutes at to move form East to West.

For a sighting forecast of the ISS see:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/JavaSSOP.html

Donald

For some reason, I'm hugely excited to know that it's Jupiter! Made my evening worthwhile somehow. I mean, I must have seen it in the past, but I never previously knew that's what it was.

Saturn is very visible at the moment as well, in the constellation of Gemini. It just looks like any other star, but if you find a map of Gemini and compare it with what's in the sky, you'll find an extra star, which is Saturn. You won't see the rings, though, unless you have a telescope with at least a magnification of 60.

Ooh eck! About three hours ago somebody asked me what it was. I said "dunno maybe aliens coming for ya." Log-on and find this thread, with the same question, and mention of aliens. Spooky! But then the person who asked tolm me it's Jupiter.So they asked me, so they could tell me.

Vaguely interesting sub-question then, in that case: can you actually see any man-made objects (space stations, etc) from Earth?

Yes, the ISS is visible from Earth at various times of the night when it's overhead (although don't ask me where about to look in the sky as I'm hopeless).

On a clear night, you should be able to see a satellite within about five minutes. Just look at the stars and watch out for something moving out the corner of your eye. It will look just like any other star but will move from top of sky to horizon in about two minutes.

Vaguely interesting sub-question then, in that case: can you actually see any man-made objects (space stations, etc) from Earth?

See post 12 and click the link. ISS = International Space Station

Donald