Oct. 21, 2011, 10:00 pm MST (Phoenix, AZ). It's about 1/2 to 2/3 up from the eastern horizon to the zenith, if that's the right word for directly above. I'm guessing it might be the planet Venus. I tried checking several skywatching websites, but maybe I'm just too ignorant about astronomy. My husband guessed it might be a satellite, but I don't see any movement at all. There is terrible light pollution here, but it's amazingly bright.
-
Jupiter.
Venus is never in the eastern sky in the hours after sunset, nor in the western sky just before sunrise. That's because its orbit is closer to the sun than the Earth's orbit.
BTW, thank you for giving excellent details about location, time, and direction. A much better help than those who ask simply "what's the bright planet i see" : )
Venus is never in the eastern sky in the hours after sunset, nor in the western sky just before sunrise. That's because its orbit is closer to the sun than the Earth's orbit.
BTW, thank you for giving excellent details about location, time, and direction. A much better help than those who ask simply "what's the bright planet i see" : )
-
That's the planet Jupiter, the fourth brightest object in the sky after the Sun, the Moon, and the planet Venus. Look to the left of the setting Sun in the next few weeks and you'll begin to see Venus, even brighter than Jupiter.
-
That's Jupiter, largest planet in our solar system.
-
Perhaps something to do with those three guys from the east, riding camels towards it, bearing gifts.
Cheers!
Cheers!