Planets in the sky

A7X

Just wondering what Planet or planets were visible in the sky last night? Pretty sure I saw one to the left of the moon last night and just wondering which it was.

mike65

Read all about it

http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/

A7X

"It will lie to right of the almost full Moon on the 6th of August" -Jupiter

I thought it was jupiter cause it was very bright but I also thought it could be venus, but this says it would be to the right of the moon where as I saw it on the left hand side of the moon.

Ostrom

Venus orbits the sun inside of earths orbit, it is only visible close to the sun. Its maximum elongation is 28 degrees. Rising about 3am now I think, haven't managed to stay up late enough for a proper look yet

A7X

efla wrote: »

Venus orbits the sun inside of earths orbit, it is only visible close to the sun

I just thought it might be because it was so bright. More than likely Jupiter.

Ostrom

A7X wrote: »

I just thought it might be because it was so bright. More than likely Jupiter.

Yes, that was jupiter. It will be in the same position tonight

A7X

It was a beatiful sight. The moon was completley bright and just jupiter to the left of it.

jumpguy

That was indeed Jupiter.

I think Mars is visible low on the horizon at about 4AM or so...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Uranus (I think, I'd have to check on Stellarium) is out there too, but it's not nearly as bright as Jupiter.

A7X

I wish I had a telescope ha

Does anyone know how easy it is to get into the Space buisness? Like is it easy to move from any sort of engineering to it?

jumpguy

Anyone can take up astronomy as a hobby. I only have 10x50 binoculars and there's plenty to see with just them. They're a very cheap and simple starting point. For telescope's, you just read the sticky! Prices differ with what you want obviously.

A7X

jumpguy wrote: »

Anyone can take up astronomy as a hobby. I only have 10x50 binoculars and there's plenty to see with just them. They're a very cheap and simple starting point. For telescope's, you just read the sticky! Prices differ with what you want obviously.

I'm not talking about working as an astronomer, I'm talking about engineering things for space and working on space missions like with the european space agency.

jumpguy

Ohh I'm sorry!

Not too sure about that, as Ireland isn't a member of ESA (as far as I know) I'm not sure if they look for candidates here. However, there are degrees people can get in 3rd level such as astrophysics. I'd assume these kind of degrees would be helpful in search of an engineering job. Many people are probably experienced advanced materials engineers (like aircraft). I'd imagine though, it's a matter of your CV and backround in engineering. It's an expanding sector though and could be set for a boom with the dawn of space tourism.

A7X

Yeah. I'm pretty sure I'd be some what way qualified for that sector. It's something I'd be really interested in alright. Must research it more.

Terry Cotta

Ye Ireland is a member state of ESA. I applied there before.

Check this out

Its a recruitment agency for jobs in the space industry. They give a list of their clients so you can just bypass the recruitment agency and apply direct to the companies. I have looked at those and other companies and you really need to have plenty of experience in the space industry.

I dont know how qualified you are but a good way to get into the industry is through graduate programmes.

A7X

Terry Cotta wrote: »

Ye Ireland is a member state of ESA. I applied there before.

Check this out

Its a recruitment agency for jobs in the space industry. They give a list of their clients so you can just bypass the recruitment agency and apply direct to the companies. I have looked at those and other companies and you really need to have plenty of experience in the space industry.

I dont know how qualified you are but a good way to get into the industry is through graduate programmes.

So they wouldn't take on graduates just out of say an Electronics engineering course?

jumpguy

A7X wrote: »

So they wouldn't take on graduates just out of say an Electronics engineering course?

I wouldn't see why they wouldn't tbh. Electronics play a huge role in spacecraft.

A7X

jumpguy wrote: »

I wouldn't see why they wouldn't tbh. Electronics play a huge role in spacecraft.

It's all very confusing on the ESA website lol They seem to do some sort of year long post graduate course to give people some experience in the buisness.

Terry Cotta

A7X wrote: »

So they wouldn't take on graduates just out of say an Electronics engineering course?

Thats just what I'm after graduating from I sent CV's out but they probably wouldn't take any notice since I just have a Bachelors degree and no experience. In searching for jobs I've noticed that a Masters is becoming the minimum requirement. Over in Europe I think a lot of courses are now 5 years - 4 years degree and 1 year Masters

A7X

Terry Cotta wrote: »

Thats just what I'm after graduating from I sent CV's out but they probably wouldn't take any notice since I just have a Bachelors degree and no experience. In searching for jobs I've noticed that a Masters is becoming the minimum requirement. Over in Europe I think a lot of courses are now 5 years - 4 years degree and 1 year Masters

Yeah I noticed that. There's also alot of mentions of doctorates but I'm pretty sure that would be for higher up.

I'd love to have something to do with Space exploration.

Kevster

Download a program call Stellarium, A7X, to see which planets and stars are in the sky at any one time. It's an excellent program.

That ESA graduate thing is only for those with a PhD as far as Im aware? I've been through a degree in Computer SCience and Industrial Biology so far, and now Im starting my PhD in Physics and Chemistry (mostly IR Spec. and NMR). Once this is done, I'll be knocking on ESA's door!

Ostrom

Kevster wrote: »

Im starting my PhD in Physics and Chemistry

Godspeed on the lonely road

fifilarue

Hi All,
Was out looking at the sky for the last few nights and noticed that Jupiter changed position last night-it was on the right hand side of the moon and all the other nights it was on the left. I know there is probably a really simple explanation for this-like orbiting planets-but could someone please enlighten me?
Only saw a couple of meteorites last night, both spectacular-the second one was like nothing I've ever seen before-it was like a ball of fire with a flaming tail which lasted for a second or two only-saw it at about 11.30 in the western part of the sky.

Dave!

fifilarue wrote: »

Only saw a couple of meteorites last night, both spectacular-the second one was like nothing I've ever seen before-it was like a ball of fire with a flaming tail which lasted for a second or two only-saw it at about 11.30 in the western part of the sky.

You lucky thing Would love to see that

jumpguy

fifilarue wrote: »

Hi All,
Was out looking at the sky for the last few nights and noticed that Jupiter changed position last night-it was on the right hand side of the moon and all the other nights it was on the left. I know there is probably a really simple explanation for this-like orbiting planets-but could someone please enlighten me?
Only saw a couple of meteorites last night, both spectacular-the second one was like nothing I've ever seen before-it was like a ball of fire with a flaming tail which lasted for a second or two only-saw it at about 11.30 in the western part of the sky.

It's because the Moon and Jupiter "move" at different speeds. The Moon revolves around the Earth whereas we see Jupiter due to the Earth's revolution. Both are moving at different "speeds". Hence the change in position. If I'm wrong someone tell me!
I must look out for meteorites tonight, people are seeing loads of them!

fifilarue

jumpguy wrote: »

It's because the Moon and Jupiter "move" at different speeds. The Moon revolves around the Earth whereas we see Jupiter due to the Earth's revolution. Both are moving at different "speeds". Hence the change in position. If I'm wrong someone tell me!
I must look out for meteorites tonight, people are seeing loads of them!

thanks jumpguy-good luck with the meteorites tonight-might take a break myself as i have a sore neck from looking upwards and a hangover from drinking wine to stay warm...:D

RonMexico

Had a look at Jupiter with a telescope for the first time ever this week. Managed to see the two moons to its right also. Tiny Tiny specks but cool all the same.

Now if only I could make sense of all these feckin lenses I have

Flukey

fifilarue wrote: »

Hi All,
Was out looking at the sky for the last few nights and noticed that Jupiter changed position last night-it was on the right hand side of the moon and all the other nights it was on the left. I know there is probably a really simple explanation for this-like orbiting planets-but could someone please enlighten me?

As Jumpguy says, it is the way the moon is moving, being nearer to us. It will be further left of Jupiter tonight. Remember that the moon goes around us in a month, whereas Jupiter takes nearly 12 years to go around the sun. If you get a long clear night and watch where the moon is in relation to another object, and then go and look again a few hours later, you will notice that the moon has moved in relation to that object.

It would be hard to notice this with a planet on a single night. Over the course of a few months you would notice this. Jupiter will be visible in the night skies right through the winter so if you monitor its progress over the next few months, you will notice its movement in relation to stars that are near it. From year to year you will notice a bigger change. As Jupiter takes just under 12 years to orbit the sun, from our perspective it appears to be in a different one of the 12 zodiacal constellations each year.

fifilarue

Thanks for that Flukey-really interesting.

Ghost Train

Took this photo of jupiter and moons last night just after midnight
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eolhc/3798898529/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Kevster

That's a crisp [clear] image dude - nice one. Jupiter is so easy to spot because it's always the brighest thing in the sky.

Hauk

Had a great view of Jupiter last night.

I was able to make out all the moons, and the cloud bands. It was so clear the planet had some colour in the cloud bands.

A great view.

Hauk

fifilarue

Was out on Howth Head last night and view of both Jupiter and Moon spectacular-was a little disappointed as only managed to spot a few perseids before being sent back to the car by my brother in law as things were getting a little hairy up there.

Bodan

There is an incredible view tonight at about half 3 in the morning, if they sky stays clear. Venus , Mars Jupiter and Uranus should be visable in a cloudless sky.

lostexpectation

urnaus?

Bodan

It doesn't show it on the zoomed out map but Uranus is about half way in between the moon and Jupiter.

kiki

Been watching Jupiter for past couple of weeks - when night is anyway clear. I can see out two browish bands runing through the "off white" Juptiter and if every now and again can glimse at least one other colour band above the two others. Jupiter rises to about 20 degrees altitude max at the moment, it would be better if it was a little higher in the sky as there is then less "air" for the light to travel through to reach the scope. I saw all four of the main moons and used Stellarium to identify which moon was which.