[Topspinmo]

Just before the sun comes up if you look east you will see Venus (brightest object in the sky except the moon) about 65 degrees up. Down from Venes a verily visible planet Mars. next the second brightest planet just below Mars is Jupiter. Looking further down just above the horizon you will see Mercury. Mercury only visible about ever 6 weeks and only seen very low off the horizon. FYI if interested?

[kittygilchrist]

I thought it was a star when I first saw it a few days ago. It is quite spectacular. Thanks for sharing, I get up early anyway, but maybe some people will look out there who don't usually check the eastern sky in the morning.
Anytime from 530 on is great

[Topspinmo]

Mercury may be harder to see the early depending on its cycle it will be bright orange the earlier you see it. About 630 best to identify it if you've never seen it before? I've got sky scout which easily identifies thousands of objects in the sky.

[kittygilchrist]

Scout? Tell me more

[asianthree]

Fi was up at 3am but those pesky clouds were in the way

[kittygilchrist]

October 2015 guide to the five visible planets | Astronomy Essentials | EarthSky

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Scout? Tell me more

The Celestron Sky scout (google it) is hand held device that identifies stars, galaxies (if you could see them with the naked eye) planets. You point and push the button and it identifies the object. It also provides entertaining and educational audio and text, including fact, Trivia, history, and mythology about most popular celestial objects. You can even get telescope attachment.

Anything else you want to know

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Fi was up at 3am but those pesky clouds were in the way

3am little early to view Mercury. Most never seen it or know where to look. Right before sun up the best time.

[jojo]

Will these planets be visible tomorrow?

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by jojo

Will these planets be visible tomorrow?

Yes, if its not cloudy, just before sunrise the best time, look east able it 65 degrees up you will see the brightest object in the Sky other than the moon. That is Venus. The Stars will disappear first and the planets will still be visible as the sun comes up. Why? The Planets are closer so the light reaches us first and last.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Yes, if its not cloudy, just before sunrise the best time, look east able it 65 degrees up you will see the brightest object in the Sky other than the moon. That is Venus. The Stars will disappear first and the planets will still be visible as the sun comes up. Why? The Planets are closer so the light reaches us first and last.

Thanks. I'm an early riser so will check it out. I appreciate info like this on TOTV.

[JerryLBell]

The wife and I were bird-watching at Cape May, NJ over the weekend and saw this lineup over the ocean just before sunrise. That's the first time I've ever seen Mercury and the first time I've ever seen four planets at once. A few mornings before, I saw Venus, Mars, Jupiter and a crescent moon but Mercury was hidden behind trees (that was in North Carolina). Both were amazing views.

[Topspinmo]

Before I die I want to go where it is completely dark (no city lights) so I can view the stars like when I was kid. Due to the city lighting at night most of the stars can be seen from the naked eye. I bet the view over the ocean was spectacular!

[MikeV]

On my iPad I have an APP called Sky Guide. It shows the entire sky from your point including below the horizon. It even has the satellites. As you move your iPad across the sky it moves with you and you can touch each object and it tells you what it is.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by MikeV

On my iPad I have an APP called Sky Guide. It shows the entire sky from your point including below the horizon. It even has the satellites. As you move your iPad across the sky it moves with you and you can touch each object and it tells you what it is.

I use have program called Starry skies which 10 years ago was probably the crude early devolopment of the APP? The sky scout has probably the same program/technology in hand held device. Mine outdated at least by 10 years?


I can't remember where I use to go to study satellites? I think was nasa space station site that live tracks the space station?