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Astronomers - what the heck?
self

Posted on 06/07/2015 2:49:48 AM PDT by djf

OK. Tonight I go on my porch and gaze at the night sky.

I have to move around a bit because there are trees everywhere.

But I see a BRIGHT object - almost directly west of me, and it's getting ready to set. It's right on the ecliptic.

The only two objects that ever get that bright are Jupiter and Venus, but it wasn't Jupiter, and at 11:30 at night, it sure ain't Venus!

Any ideas? Seriously. This has been buggin the crap out of me!


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To: djf

Install the app “Night Sky”, point your device at the object and it will tell you. Could it be the ISS?


21 posted on 06/07/2015 3:33:00 AM PDT by immadashell (The inmates are running the asylum.)
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To: djf

Set after midnight (00:16) in Seattle:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/aa_mrst2.pl?form=1&ID=AA&year=2015&month=6&day=4&reps=5&body=2&state=WA&place=Seattle&height=10

Because of this I believe the events in the last column (”set”) precede the events in the first column (”rise”), so to know what time Venus set last night, look in the column for June 7.

Regards!


22 posted on 06/07/2015 3:34:34 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (This is known as "bad luck". - Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: djf

First, we have to catch up to the Jetsons before we can even consider your other options. I mean, surely we’ll get flying cars before interstellar space travel, right???


23 posted on 06/07/2015 3:36:12 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Thanks!

It reminds me of a time years back when I saw the moon - it wasn’t an eclipse, but it was just right before sunrise, and it was like an annular eclipse, just a ring in the sky.

Odd. That the sky can do such stuff.

But I swear if you told me you could see Venus at 11:30, I’d flat out call you a liar!


24 posted on 06/07/2015 3:36:49 AM PDT by djf (OK. Well, now, lemme try to make this clear: If you LIKE your lasagna, you can KEEP your lasagna!)
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To: djf

It’s Planet X, otherwise known as Nibiru.


25 posted on 06/07/2015 3:47:59 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: djf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQH3QeZoL8


26 posted on 06/07/2015 3:51:57 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: djf

Possibly International Space Station. It’s amazingly bright with a setting sun.


27 posted on 06/07/2015 4:02:15 AM PDT by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
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To: djf
Maybe a streetlight?

Regards,

28 posted on 06/07/2015 4:06:42 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: djf

Star Trek 3 — 8 July 2016
Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human — 2017


29 posted on 06/07/2015 4:08:24 AM PDT by BushCountry (If you're wondering, "I got my screenname before GW was elected the first time.")
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To: djf
Nothing about it at Suspicious Observers for the last few days.
30 posted on 06/07/2015 4:10:00 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: djf
But I swear if you told me you could see Venus at 11:30, I’d flat out call you a liar!

You may want to call me a liar, but the U.S. Naval Observatory says that in Seattle Venus will set at 00:15 this evening, which is already Monday. She sets later in Seattle than in Boston because you further north and you are further to the west of the center of your time zone. On the day of the equinox, where latitude doesn't matter much, sunset set will be about 25 minutes later, local time, in Seattle than in Boston.

You have to be pretty astute to be surprised that Venus set so late. Asger Aaboe was teaching an introductory astronomy class at Yale in 1967 that was comprised entirely of elite undergraduate mathematicians. He posed the question to the class of whether or not one could see the moon in the daytime. A lively and vigorous discussion ensued, with a number of divergent opinions being hotly defended. To settle the issue Professor Aaboe suggested the students look out the window.

31 posted on 06/07/2015 4:15:18 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (This is known as "bad luck". - Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Might have been 0”s alien bodyguard hanging around off duty. (look it up online)...: )


32 posted on 06/07/2015 4:17:36 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: djf
Daylight savings time. It's actually only 10:30. But I share your initial confusion, how can you see an object that you know is closer to the sun than earth, when so close to midnight.

33 posted on 06/07/2015 4:40:23 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: rarestia

Hey, excellent site - thanks for the link!


34 posted on 06/07/2015 4:43:11 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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To: BushCountry; djf

I’d love to see a remake of “The Last Starfighter”, with modern special effects.


35 posted on 06/07/2015 4:49:05 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'll vote for Jeb when Terri Schiavo endorses him.)
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To: djf

I saw it too. just after dusk it was brighter than all get-out. Could be seen clearly even through prison security lighting.

CC


36 posted on 06/07/2015 4:52:17 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Sufficient unto the day are the troubles therof)
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To: djf

My wife saw a star last night and she is almost blind. First one she’s seen in many years. Don’t know if it was the same one.


37 posted on 06/07/2015 4:56:02 AM PDT by McGruff (Never Forget)
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To: djf
Did it look like this?


38 posted on 06/07/2015 5:01:52 AM PDT by McGruff (Never Forget)
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To: djf

http://www.stellarium.org/


39 posted on 06/07/2015 5:05:51 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

40 posted on 06/07/2015 5:47:44 AM PDT by deoetdoctrinae (Become a monthly donor and END FREEPATHONS!)
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