Massive star over Dublin - 5AM

War Machine 539

Can anyone Identify this? Its the largest lightsource I have ever seen in the sky that I cant explain . . . . . was it a satelite, the I.S.S. or a very bright star? Im a complete philistine when it comes to this so if you can help please let me know! My curiosity is killing me!

Cú Giobach

In fairness just asking "what did I see" without giving any details isn't the easiest question to answer.
Though I'll assume you meant the very bright "object" to the SE at around 5:00.
That is the planet Venus, it will be visible in the morning sky till around Feb.
The image below is what it actually looks like at the moment (if you had a very large telescope).

deman

Jupiter and Uranus are almost in a direct line with earth right now and creating a "large star" effect. It might be those that you saw.

Cú Giobach

deman wrote: »

Jupiter and Uranus are almost in a direct line with earth right now and creating a "large star" effect. It might be those that you saw.

Jupiter sets around 12:30am.
Below is an idea of what they look like at the moment. (Jupiter is the bright one, Uranus to the left).

War Machine 539

Cú Giobach wrote: »

In fairness just asking "what did I see" without giving any details isn't the easiest question to answer.
Though I'll assume you meant the very bright "object" to the SE at around 5:00.
That is the planet Venus, it will be visible in the morning sky till around Feb.
The image below is what it actually looks like at the moment (if you had a very large telescope).

If you took the time to read my question, I explained my knowledge of astronomy is poor! Maybe read the questions before giving the smart alec answers
That minor gripe aside, thanks for the replies, If it was a star it was MASSIVE. To clarify slightly it rises in the east, Im in Dublin, and it rises in Dublin bay, have a look tonight, I guarantee you will not miss it!
I cant give any better help than that! Again thanks to all for satisfying my curiosity!

Cú Giobach

War Machine 539 wrote: »

If you took the time to read my question, I explained my knowledge of astronomy is poor! Maybe read the questions before giving the smart alec answers

Asking someone to give details is not a gripe, it is the first thing anyone would ask if someone asks "what did I see". It's even in the charter for this forum.
The most basic info ie north, south, east or west isn't something you need to be an astronomer to know.
All I said was it isn't the easiest question to answer and it isn't.
Thanks for your appreciation of me taking the time to reply to you, something I won't be doing again.

War Machine 539

No problem. I have a low tolerance for smart alecs anyway.

Cú Giobach

War Machine 539 wrote: »

No problem. I have a low tolerance for smart alecs anyway.

That is some very low tolerance indeed if you took offence to me saying it isn't an easy question to answer. :rolleyes:

NoQuarter

To be fair war machine, he had a point, we need more details that its a bright light in the sky to help you.

And you then describe it as "MASSIVE", the moon perhaps?? Whats massive like? You need to tell us how massive as best you can.

You ask if it the I.S.S? Well is the light moving? if you said whether it was moving or static we can narrow the answer down by half also!

The divils in the detail.

Sightaridis

Which direction can you see Venus? I've been looking out for it this week but didn't know you had to wait until early morning.

Is it similar to Jupiter from what we see or bigger?

John mac

look south in the morning twilight, up until about 08:30

Sauve

Hi there,
I'm a newbie in this forum so go easy on me!
I'm in Sligo and saw the same thing at 6.30am
It was in the east, slightly south east
It was about ten times the size of other stars and very very bright.
It wasn't moving, I watched it for about 20 mins and nothing changed.
Would love to know what it was!
Thanks!

Cú Giobach

Sauvignon82 wrote: »

Hi there,
I'm a newbie in this forum so go easy on me!
I'm in Sligo and saw the same thing at 6.30am
It was in the east, slightly south east
It was about ten times the size of other stars and very very bright.
It wasn't moving, I watched it for about 20 mins and nothing changed.
Would love to know what it was!
Thanks!

Venus.

Sauve

Thanks Cú

ihavequestions

Is Venus bigger in the sky than Jupiter?

2 stroke

First "what did I see, thread" that I've seen where noboby mentioned chinese lanterns. Oops.

kyosushi

OP you are seeing Jupiter at the moment, If you are a newbie to the sky , Start with the moon then look to your left of it you will see the bright planet , Over a moon phase you can watch the planet over take the moon to it's lower right , Follow the planet over that course until Jupiter is at about 25 minutes past the 12 o'clock moon, at that stage go up to 20 Min's past the moon you can then see Venus , You can then work your way out into the Milky Way .... Great stuff..




At the moment we are enjoying a whole fireworks in the sky . If you want to watch the show try position yourself in a shaded place away from street lighting . Use soft peripheral vision glancing around the section of sky just above you , I just watched a shower in the Pegasus Square . 1:30am (time of posting 14th December )

Adiaga 2

Total newbie here also. So which is it - Jupiter or Venus? I have seen it the last few mornings around 6.00am in the east/south east. It is massive.

Cú Giobach

kyosushi wrote: »

OP you are seeing Jupiter at the moment, If you are a newbie to the sky , Start with the moon then look to your left of it you will see the bright planet , Over a moon phase you can watch the planet over take the moon to it's lower right , Follow the planet over that course until Jupiter is at about 25 minutes past the 12 o'clock moon, at that stage go up to 20 Min's past the moon you can then see Venus , You can then work your way out into the Milky Way .... Great stuff..

The OP asked what did he see at 5am. Since Jupiter sets around 12:30am it can't be what he was looking at.
Venus doesn't rise and isn't visible until around 4:30am and is exceptionally bright in the SE until it is washed out by the sunrise.


To people who keep asking or are going to ask:
VENUS is the very bright "object" in the morning sky to the SE. NO doubt whatsoever. (as I said in the very first reply to the OP)

kyosushi

You are of course right Cú Giobach , I got carried away just scan reading some of the "comets" (ops I mean comments) and made a fool of myself staying up late into the night.... Will have to get some sleep and watch out in the mornings for VENUS showing off.

Cú Giobach

kyosushi wrote: »

You are of course right Cú Giobach , I got carried away just scan reading some of the "comets" (ops I mean comments) and made a fool of myself staying up late into the night.... Will have to get some sleep and watch out in the mornings for VENUS showing off.

Sleep can be a handy thing alright.
Did you see any meteorites in your late night last night??
Too cloudy here (as usual).

JoeDublin24

Just seen what I think is Venus this morning at 6am. It was a very bright star, the biggest I've seen. It was pretty low south east. Couldn't see any other stars! Can anyone confirm if this is Venus?

JoeDublin24

Cu. Just read your earlier confirmation about Venus in the morning sky. Cheers.

petergdub

Cheers for the earlier replies regarding the bright object in the SE which I saw this morning myself.

I am more interested in an object to the West of that (say SSW) which appears every evening (soon as its dark). I've seen it for the past few months.
Appears brighter than all the stars and does not appear to twinkle - is that Jupiter ?


The Lunar eclipse yesterday was simply spectacular - saw it ca. 7:15 AM all the way in to work.

Another newbie question - are any of the clubs around Dublin into design / building of scopes ?

Beeker

petergdub wrote: »

Cheers for the earlier replies regarding the bright object in the SE which I saw this morning myself.

I am more interested in an object to the West of that (say SSW) which appears every evening (soon as its dark). I've seen it for the past few months.
Appears brighter than all the stars and does not appear to twinkle - is that Jupiter ?

That would be Jupiter.