Very Bright Star!

[crisper]

Hi everyone.. I'm in the south west... and looking into the night sky now.. there's just a bit of light left.. there's a very bright star.. I think I'm looking towards the west,.. anyone know what I'm looking at ? ta everso.. Mrs C xx

[bibblebub]

Venus is low down in the South-West.

[crisper]

thanks bibblebub.. we thought it might be Venus... looks so pretty and sparkly.. very christmas- y ..lol Mrs C x

[chrisgel]

If you've got a smart phone you could try the Google Star Map app.
Simply point the camera towards the star and the app will tell you what you're looking at.

[Gizmonster]

As bibblebub said, Venus is in the SW sky:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance

[crisper]

good idea Chrisgel...good job you lot are here..lol..I'd never have thought of that ! lol..Mrs c xx

[crisper]

Ta everso gizmonster xx

[carolegif]

I wondered what it was too! Thanks.

[Tuvok]

Stars twinkle, planets don't.

[Brinjal]

Venus is very big and bright at the moment.

[mallyh]

someone told me tonight it was pluto

[FredPuli43]

Pluto is very small and a very long way away. This will be Venus, the planet sometimes called a star.

Don't get where the idea comes from that stars twinkle and planets don't. The twinkling is caused by the light passing through the Earth's atmosphere, not by the source of the light.

[Prudie]

It is Venus and if you wait a bit and then look more to the NE you will see Jupiter also very bright at the moment.

[FredPuli43]

Clumsily worded. A planet isn't a source of light, but you know what I mean.

[Tuvok]

Here is one explanation

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=114

The one I normally give is because its reflected sunlight from the planet, but its starts own light that you are seeing.

Moonlight is also reflected sunlight.

[Tuvok]

For a good example of a twinkling start take a look at Sirius - the dog star.

You will see all sorts of colours from it - its actually 2 stars.

[Tuvok]

Star not start!!

[mibn2cweus]

Venus is more than a million times brighter than Pluto.
Saturn's moon Titan is about 100 times brighter than Pluto.