SingAstro

Posted: **Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:00 pm**

hey guys nice to meet all of u!

well this evening i looked out the window and saw this bright "dot" (excuse my bluntness for im new to astronomy). dont think it was a star as it wasnt twinking..(please correct if im wrong). any idea what i coulda have been?est direction is about NW i think

Posted: **Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:19 pm**

Hi Mark. welcome. The bright "dot" at NW, actually closer to West is Venus. Do you notice a dimmer red or orange dot at about 4 o'clock position of Venus about 2 fingers distance away is Saturn.

Posted: **Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:55 pm**

Hi,
Should be Venus... Look up the East sky and you'll saw another bright orange "star"... that's the largest planet in our solar system.... Jupiter!!

Anyway, welcome to SingAstro!!

Have a nice day.

Posted: **Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:50 pm**

You can try installing Stellarium (http://www.stellarium.org/).
Its a freely distributed software that shows you the sky relative to your location.
Get it installed and try it out ! Its should be self explanatory once you start the software.

Hint : Get your NSEW direction right (Sun rise in East and sets in the West).

Regards,
Sam

Posted: **Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:56 am**

Wow....Stellarium is AWESOME !!!

Can't believe this is a freeware and the 3D engine is incredible too. Thanks for the link.

Posted: **Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:18 pm**

Yes, graphics engine looks great and appealing.
Supports for Windows , linux and even MAC OS.
Thats something you'll get when its 'open source~d' :>

Eagerly waiting for new features !

Posted: **Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:15 pm**

lol tonight saw venus and saturn again tonight...now on the east sky i see another white dot thats not twinkling...and a brownish dot also not twinkling...

Posted: **Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:59 am**

The bright white dot (actually should be yellowish orange) is Jupiter as mentioned by Weixing. By the time you saw Venus (9pm), Jupiter should raised abt 60~70 degree from the East, quite close to the top of your head. As for the Brownish dot, (looking Eastward, position @ 2 o'clock from Jupiter) it is a real star, Antares. This red giant star is many times bigger than our Sun, see link for the comparison. http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?p=37642#37642

Note, Saturn will be moving further and further away from Venus as days pass.

Oh, you should install the Stellarium software as mentioned by Sam, it is free.