Re: OT: Astrophotos [Re: Scouts doing Platinum?]

In message <748dde344f.eddien@xxxxxxxxxx>, Edward <eddien@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
In message <2M-dnfxk6r8TYITanZ2dnUVZ8vidnZ2d@xxxxxx>
David Patrick <"webmaster"@[mydistrict]scouts.org.uk> wrote:

David Patrick wrote:
Edward wrote:
..... I got up in the small hours for the usual and saw a very
bright object on the Eastern horizon. Looking at 'heavens-above' now
I deduce it is probably Saturn. It is very close to Venus at the mo'
so if I had checked a bit later, she might have been visible as well.

Brilliant! Saves me a search. I saw it to when I was called out at 5am.
I saw it and thought it was an aircraft - it was only after I noticed it
had not moved that I realised it must have been something else - and
here we are, you have given me the answer.

Cheers!


Might even have been Venus we were looking at.

From Jodrell Bank's website:

"...Venus is now shining brightly dominating the eastern pre-dawn sky!
It was at is very brightest in late September but still shines at
magnitude -4.7 - the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon!
Viewing it with a telescope will reveal a 38% illuminated crescent...."

http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/public/nskyoct07.html

Very useful site, and they also offer a monthly podcast describing the
night sky for the next four weeks.

I guess GAGS will be along shortly to enlighten us. Looking at the
heavens-above map, I had though that Venus would still be below my
horizon at that time. If you were there at 5am then both should have
been visible. Ah no, wait a minute, if Saturn and Venus are together,
then that means that Saturn is on the back side of the Sun and hence
will be faint. Yes, it was Venus we were looking at. GAGS, help
please.

Yes, it would have been Venus. From Starry Night Pro 5:
Venus rose at 3.13am and at 5am would be about 7 deg. Above the horizon and just south of east. Magnitude -4.43.

Saturn at that time would have been almost directly above it, separated by about 3 deg., and magnitude 0.79.
--
Brian Smith
8th Muswell Hill Scouts
http://www.8thmuswellhill.org.uk
.

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