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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- How to Identify that Light in the Sky
NASA ^ | June 09, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 07/10/2014 8:33:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: What is that light in the sky? Perhaps one of humanity's more common questions, an answer may result from a few quick observations. For example -- is it moving or blinking? If so, and if you live near a city, the answer is typically an airplane, since planes are so numerous and so few stars and satellites are bright enough to be seen over the din of artificial city lights. If not, and if you live far from a city, that bright light is likely a planet such as Venus or Mars -- the former of which is constrained to appear near the horizon just before dawn or after dusk. Sometimes the low apparent motion of a distant airplane near the horizon makes it hard to tell from a bright planet, but even this can usually be discerned by the plane's motion over a few minutes. Still unsure? The above chart gives a sometimes-humorous but mostly-accurate assessment. Dedicated sky enthusiasts will likely note -- and are encouraged to provide -- polite corrections.

June 09, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; science; skepticultists
[Credit & Copyright: HK (The League of Lost Causes)]

1 posted on 07/10/2014 8:33:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...

We just saw this in a non-APoD topic, and I’ve got one more *real* one to post, so this is the ping message.


2 posted on 07/10/2014 8:33:51 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

I’m always amazed these days how so many people can’t tell the difference between a planet in our solar system or a star.

And we all seem to have small computers in our hands with the ability to learn and not be ignorant.

We’ve crossed the line with most people into just plain stupid.


3 posted on 07/10/2014 8:36:51 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Conservatives are all that's left to defend the Constitution. Dems hate it, and Repubs don't care.)
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To: Fledermaus

We haven’t crossed any line — there have always been plenty of people who couldn’t tell the difference. It doesn’t mean they are or were stupid.


4 posted on 07/10/2014 8:49:35 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Bump!


5 posted on 07/10/2014 8:50:41 PM PDT by 4Liberty (Our 13th Amendment abolished slavery, yet they continue forcing us to "transfer" our work products.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sorry, my point was there are so many very easy ways to learn if they want to.

I’ve met people that, once told that it’s not a star it’s Jupiter, won’t believe you. Thus they cross over from ignorance into idiocy.

Agree or not, that was my point. I wasn’t trying to lump EVERYONE into that. I apologize for not taking the time at first to express that.


6 posted on 07/10/2014 8:54:48 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Conservatives are all that's left to defend the Constitution. Dems hate it, and Repubs don't care.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Swamp gas. It’s always swamp gas.


7 posted on 07/10/2014 9:01:13 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: SunkenCiv

There’s an app for that.


8 posted on 07/10/2014 9:29:06 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: SunkenCiv

Ever since I was a toddler I wondered about “UFOs”, and knew back then that any advanced civilazation from another would never need lights to move between galaxies and planets. Any real alien craft would be essentially invisible. If its a “light” in the sky, its most definitely on of ours, or wholly natural, no matter how mysterious it may seem at the time of obvservation.


9 posted on 07/11/2014 4:20:10 AM PDT by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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To: SunkenCiv

B-B-But...

The History Channel says that they just MIGHT be Aliens.


10 posted on 07/11/2014 4:40:50 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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