Anyone know the name of a certain star? [in the sky]

[E31Shrew]

When looking in to the night sky, if you look at Orion, to the right there are two very distinct stars, at about 90 degrees from Orion. One is incredibly bright. Does anyone know what it's called?
Wifey wants to know, not me!

[wolves_wanderer]

2 unusually bright "stars" at the moment is probably Jupiter and Venus which are close together and high in the sky at the moment.

[JBM78]

wolves_wanderer said:

2 unusually bright "stars" at the moment is probably Jupiter and Venus which are close together and high in the sky at the moment.

Yes, deffo Venus and Jupiter to the right of Orion. Venus is the brighter one.

[E31Shrew]

Thanks chaps. Never ceases to amaze me the knowledge on PH. Thanks again

[Sheets Tabuer]

If you turn around to the east just coming up the very orange one will be mars.

[jmorgan]

FOC and handy to have
http://www.stellarium.org/

[wiffmaster]

Got an Android phone? Google Sky Map

There's a number of equivalents on the iPhone as well. Great fun and very accurate.

[KB_S1]

The google sky map is great, can be used on Android and iOS devices or your normal browser.

[E31Shrew]

Just popped out to have a gander and have seen all three. Actually quite interesting. Thanks again

[Puggit]

If you look below and left of Orion, there is a bright star. This is Sirius, which is the brightest stellar object in the sky. Actually, it's 2 stars orbiting each other

[Jasandjules]

JBM78 said:

Yes, deffo Venus and Jupiter to the right of Orion. Venus is the brighter one.

Fantastic, I knew it was Venus but was wondering what the other one was too!!

[NismoGT]

Puggit said:

If you look below and left of Orion, there is a bright star. This is Sirius, which is the brightest stellar object in the sky. Actually, it's 2 stars orbiting each other

Yep. One white main sequence star and a dwarf white companion.

[Mx5guy]

Saturn and Mercury are visable at the moment too.

[Eric Mc]

Mercury is REALLY hard to spot. Because it orbits so close to the sun it is almost always lost in the glare of the sun. The best time is to try to spot it just after the sun has set. I had a good look yesterday evening but there was too much haze on the horizon.

The sun was good though - I was able to see at least ten prominent sunspots - including a large cluster in the bottom right hand quadrant of the sun.

[vetrof]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1731...

[nellyleelephant]

Eric Mc said:

Mercury is REALLY hard to spot. Because it orbits so close to the sun it is almost always lost in the glare of the sun. The best time is to try to spot it just after the sun has set. I had a good look yesterday evening but there was too much haze on the horizon.

The sun was good though - I was able to see at least ten prominent sunspots - including a large cluster in the bottom right hand quadrant of the sun.

Projection?

[Eric Mc]

nellyleelephant said:

Eric Mc said:

Mercury is REALLY hard to spot. Because it orbits so close to the sun it is almost always lost in the glare of the sun. The best time is to try to spot it just after the sun has set. I had a good look yesterday evening but there was too much haze on the horizon.

The sun was good though - I was able to see at least ten prominent sunspots - including a large cluster in the bottom right hand quadrant of the sun.

Projection?

I actually looked directly at the sun. Naughty I know but the sun was right down on the horizon and coming through quite a deep layer of haze. And I'm blind anyway

The spots looked really clear.

[nellyleelephant]

Through binoculars

I had a good look through a Coronado Solarscope a few weeks back, if you ver get the chance, try one of those. Obvious sun spots, surface granulation and filaments growing from the edge of the disc were clear.

[Eric Mc]

nellyleelephant said:

Through binoculars

10 x 40s too

With the sun right on the horizon the dangers are very much minimised - but I wouldn't recommend it or do it too frequently.

[nellyleelephant]

Have you ever thought about making some filters up from Baader film? All you would need to do is make up something that holds the film so it covers the objective lenses.