Extremely bright star visible from southern california (Inland Empire)

From my window I can see a really bright star that I didn't notice before, which is funny because it's so bright/noticeable.

I was wondering if any astronomy buffs knew what it was? It's easily the brightest thing in the western sky, if you look straight west and then slowly start shifting view to the north you'll hit it real quick. From Riverside County, CA, it's not very high in the sky at all, maybe 30 degrees (not sure how you guys do that so I am just thinking angular).

Please help me out. This thing is so bright that it reminds me of like the "star of david" or the star that led the people to jesus. It even makes these spokes, at first I thought it had to be artificial like a satellite but it is stationary. So what planet am I looking at guys?

Are you seeing it right now? It's probably Sirius, as it's currently above the horizon, to the west.

EDIT to add: Get this program called Stellarium. You can put in your location and it will show you what's currently in view. www.stellarium.org...

[edit on 22-4-2010 by jra]

Originally posted by jra
Are you seeing it right now? It's probably Sirius, as it's currently above the horizon, to the west.

Weird, I remember it being higher than it is and more easy for me to see. I had to go outside to find it again but earlier I could see it from my window.

Regardless, while it is now LOWER in the sky (at least than I remember, my mind could be tricking me) it is still there and plainly visible for anyone I would imagine in southern california. It's so bright that even with a lot of light pollution you can see it.

Is Sirius kind of a orangish/yellowish star? I live in a desert so bear in mind it could be dust causing the effect, light pollution here so only bright stars are visible, this one is orangeish and way brighter than the others.

I'm starting to suspect it's a satellite and that I just couldn't notice it moving for the 45 seconds or so I stared at it before coming to the computer, since I remember it being higher when I originally posted.

If it's not a sattelite it probably is Sirius, thanks for the info!

edit:

Hell ya! Thanks I really appreciate that resource!

[edit on 22-4-2010 by sremmos]

With that program I have determined that it must be "Capella" or "Beatlguese"

The coloring of beatle in the program suggests that it's that but the location is almost perfectly aligned with "Capella" so I'm going with that.

Thanks a ton man you've been a huge help and now for asking a question I got a super cool program to use forever, haha so awesome!

I was just looking at it and wondering what it was, it is INDEED bright, and I am in Las Vegas.

I thought it was a plane at first because it was so bright.

Edit- I dont see it anymore.

[edit on 22-4-2010 by Common Good]

reply to post by sremmos


This could be the planet Venus. Venus is up in the evening sky now and it does look like what your describing. It has been catching my eye as well in the early evening.

Originally posted by sremmos

Weird, I remember it being higher than it is and more easy for me to see. I had to go outside to find it again but earlier I could see it from my window.

Regardless, while it is now LOWER in the sky

not to be rude..but you are familiar with the fact that the earth rotates, and stars seem to move through the sky just as the sunseems to move through the sky.. right?

that it may be in a different position because of the time of night you are viewing it at.. let alone. the time of season you are viewing it at..

I also viewed this object the other night.. so bright i thought that it was a plane coming straight towards me or something.. but as time went on. it didn't move as a plane would so i decided it wasn't one.

I think it may be the planet Venus.

-

reply to post by prevenge


I am familiar with this fact, if you note the time that I made this thread and the time that I said it had changed positions it was rather short. The movement I thought I noticed was way too significant for it to be the rotation of the earth, though as I said it was almost certainly just a memory glitch on my part.

I was about to post on this as well, from Nor Cal.

I've seen some bright stars, but this one takes the cake by a mile. That thing is bright! It's low as well as noted.

I know perspective is everything, but it seems much closer than any other star in the sky. That could be due to the sheer brightness of it though.

I've seen venus many times, I've never seen it like this.

Bright!

I also seen this sometime last week! At first I thought it was a plane coming towards me but it wasnt in the usual flight path, as I live not far from the airport. I watched it for ages and it didnt move, then left it for 5 - 10 minutes and when I checked it again, it had dropped in the sky. Which made me realise it was obviously a star. But I was amazed at how bright it was! And i've never noticed it before either and i'm always looking up when outside!

It's venus It's there every year at this time of year. I know exactly which
object you are talking about. It is the brightest thing in the sky when you can see it. One year maybe five or six years ago. It was really bright.
I havn't seen it that bright since then.

I am in Oklahoma and I too could see it last evening .

I am out every single night looking to the skies , and I was out early enough yesterday to see the first stars peep through .

And all of you are right , this thing was the brightest thing I had ever seen , in the way of stars .

I too , at first thought it must be a plane heading directly towards me , but watched it and it never moved .

My son said it could be a satellite , but I've seen plenty of those , and this wasn't one .

Could have been Venus , but I've never seen Venus that bright before .

Came inside to see if I could find anything on the web about it , but got distracted .

Glad to see you guys are on top of it this morning .

It's Venus. My wife gave me the "Starry Night" program a few years ago and I use it quite often, especially to try to find the waxing moon before the first quarter. Sirus is in the SSW and I'm not sure at what time of the day you can view it with an unaided eye.

Pretty cool program for looking for stars when the sun is still up. You do know you can see stars with binoculars or a telescpoe during the day if you know where to look. You should try this some time.

Originally posted by FrostForests
I was about to post on this as well, from Nor Cal.

I've seen some bright stars, but this one takes the cake by a mile. That thing is bright! It's low as well as noted.

I know perspective is everything, but it seems much closer than any other star in the sky. That could be due to the sheer brightness of it though.

I've seen venus many times, I've never seen it like this.

Bright!

Take a photo next time


I still dobut its venus or Sirius you never know it could be Nibiru..

Btw was the colour Red?


[edit on 5-5-2010 by Agent_USA_Supporter]

hey i live up here in hesperia ca and i have been watching this star the last couple of nights i will do my best to post some pictures tonight but yes this thing is bright!!

Nah it wasnt red, and i've seen Venus plenty of times and this was 10 times brighter. But I suppose its still possible it was Venus. Just brighter than usual maybe?

Originally posted by Lee_K
Nah it wasnt red, and i've seen Venus plenty of times and this was 10 times brighter. But I suppose its still possible it was Venus. Just brighter than usual maybe?

Well either way take pictures, Venus is something like this
fineartamerica.com...

medium bright, not brighter like you have stated

[edit on 5-5-2010 by Agent_USA_Supporter]

I looked again last night but it was overcast. And looks like it will be tonight aswell but i'll keep an eye out for it. It was definitely brighter than Venus in that photo you just posted,

Looks like Venus to me or Earth's Dark Twin that is supposed to be on the other side of the sun at all times. But, hey, weird stuff is happening all around us, so nothing surprises me any more.

I saw Venus (the bright object what ever it is) in the Lower Western Sky, and it was not blinking like a normal star, so it could be a planet. Try checking it out though a telescope and see if it has clouds.

Venus or Jupiter probably. They are both brighter than anything else in the sky.