Any Astronomers out there?

[Davy_S]

From the Ionian islands, at a bearing of 280 degrees and about 20 degrees up from the horizon I can see a bright star, it pulsates red green and white, i have had the bins on it but 7 by 50s does not make it any clearer. It is not the obvious ie a plane, it is there every night. Could it be a satelite? any experts offer an opinion, just curiosity really.

 

[Goldie]

Jupiter?

 

[davidfox]

There are so many satellites up there perhaps it a traffic light?

 

[DeeGee]

[ QUOTE ]
Jupiter?

[/ QUOTE ]Being Greece, surely Zeus rather than Jupiter?? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Gin]

This is very likely Vega( in constellation of Lyra), 25.3 light years away, as using a guess of your position of 7.40N and 42.97E this gives a bearing to the star of 309 degs. and an azimuth of 22 degs.

If you correct for exact position this should confirm- hope this helps

 

[BrendanS]

Download Stellarium then you can put in your position, date and time, and direction of view, and see exactly what is in the sky at that time.

http://www.stellarium.org/

 

[boatbuilder]

I have a program called Starry night , you can put in your lat long and the date and see what is what. I think it was afree down load from that site. And being a slow typer others have beeten me to it.

 

[Davy_S]

My position is approx 38-19-00 N
20-36-00 E

Thanks for the download info Its 19mb I would have to leave it downloading while I went out for the day my speed is 16.5 kps
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[oldgit]

Wild guess but Sirius is well known for its ability to scintillate in all the colours of the rainbow,not sure if it visible from your lattitude but if I was betting man....

 

[Ships_Cat]

Like Gin, I suspect it is Vega.

Is about the 5th or there abouts brightest star and is about where you describe from your location.

John

 

[FWB]

I put the data into Starry Night and came up with Arcturus.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Maybe is so?

I think Vega is in the approx position mentioned around 2100UTC and Arcturus around 1700UTC so I guess it depends what time the observation is.

John

 

[FWB]

Yes putting the data in more carefully I think you are right, VEGA.

Too much wine I think.

 

[BrendanS]

without time of of observation, impossible to guess, hence link to a program which can show time and date and position, so they can make own 'educated' guesss

 

[Davy_S]

The star always appears at about 10.30, and is visible for about an hour. Greek time is always 2hours ahead of uk time. If it was a satelite, would I be able to see it so clearly with the naked eye? After about an hour it drops below the mountains, so I can no longer observe it.

 

[phatcat1]

Brendan, Thanks for the tip, That Stellarium is really good!

Hours of fun!


PS You must live on the net to know where these things are!

 

[Gin]

Given your accurate location then Vega is too high( 289degs -Az - 46degs Alt at 2130 hrs BST) but it is the brightest in your part of the sky.

To check,look southwards a little and at about the same Alt. (45degs)as Vega, you will see Altair(239degs Az.

If that doesn't clinch it then you may be looking at one of two much fainter stars (but I doubt it), namely

Sarin , 283degs Az.-24degs Alt. or
Rasalhague, 269degsAz-21degs Alt.

all positions at 2130 hrs BST 4 Oct 2006

 

[oceanfroggie]

[ QUOTE ]
Download Stellarium then you can put in your position, date and time, and direction of view, and see exactly what is in the sky at that time.

[/ QUOTE ]Thanks Brendan that is a fantastic bit of software. Great help for my pending shorebased YM Ocean studies.

 

[Davy_S]

Thanks to all for the replies, I cannot check any positions of stars tonight as we have cloud here! Although I hate to put more cash into OTE nets pockets, I will do as Brendan says and download the star site (2 hours) at my laggy band connection.
Will report back.