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

It was very clear this morning before the sun came up, and I got a good view of the sky on my way to work.

I could see Venus in the southeast, very bright. In the west, Mars was probably the second brightest thing in the sky, at the feet of Gemini. southwest, Leo was high in the sky, with an extra star which my skyglobe confirmed was in fact Saturn.

The Plough and Arcturus were very noticeable. I also managed to spot two of the stars of the Summer Triangle, looking a bit lost down near the horizon in the east.

Am I right in thinking that the morning star (Venus) was worshipped as Lucifer, the light-bringer?

I believe so, but I'm not sure.

The one and only mention of Lucifer in the bible is Isaiah 14:12

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground which, didst weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

[and so on. Warlike politics, by the look of it. It ends:]

and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.

The Oxford Dictionary of English's second definition of Lucifer is as a literary reference to the morning star, though whether it was actually worshipped by that name I don't know.

Good old Wiki says so: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer

Also says that Isaiah was referring to a king of Babylon in his poetic rant . . .

Mars is exceptionally bright these evenings. I was trying to teach my eldest son and daughtet how to find Polaris using the two pointer stars of the Plough - somehow they take that to be the Star of Bethlehem.

It's so cold here this morning that Venus appears to have a halo!

Last night (around 3am) I happened to be awake and could a very bright object in the sky (south I think). Last time I mentioned a bright star it turned out to the dog star, but this didn't look star shaped - it looked a bit blobby with lumps on, and I think I remember seeing it the morning before, although not sure what time of day.

I don't remember seeing any other stars, so I think it's trying to abduct me. Thank starry nights for Fred to protect me!

I'd be grateful if you could confirm the direction, and was it twinkling (star) or constant (planet)? "Blobby with lumps on" sounds like Saturn but you'd need spectacular eyesight to see the rings without an optical aid.

"Blobby with lumps on" also sounds like a planet seen through slightly less than perfect eyes. Sounds like Mars to be. Was it beige?

It was between south east and south (is that east south east?). I think it was twinkling, rather than constant, but if it was a star it had an extra head.

My eyesight can't be called spectacular, especially at 3am. It was star coloured - rather than being a colour I wouldn't have expected to see.

The extra blob might have been another star behind it, although I don't remember seeing any other stars, which is why I thought it might be

I've just been out with my binos and saw Venus (binos not necessary) and Mars is just about the opposite direction to Venus, the two main stars of Gemini were still visible just to the left of Mars, but they're not close enough together to call them two-headed. I can't stay up till 2-3am so we'll have to rely on other viewers tuning in, unless you can recall the constellation it was in and then I can track it down for you.

I saw it again at 6.30 this morning - I thought I could see Orion to right and down a bit. It was very bright, quite large - not twinkling - and yellow. Could that have been Venus?

That was Mars which is Gemini at the moment. At that time, Gemini would be above and to the left of Orion. Mars is described as "red" but is actually beige.

Venus was the other side of the sky and didn't rise till much later. It is pure white and much, much brighter.

which is IN Gemini...

By the way, between south and southeast is south-southeast.

Ooh, so I've seen a planet? That's very exciting, thank you.