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Re: (meteorobs) Re:bright little star
Hi, Bill:
Maybe what you saw was Saturn, only about 3 or 4 degrees from the moon
on the night of the 12/13th. It's about magnitude 1.8, though, somewhat
dimmer than Capella. I usually see it as creamy colored rather than
blue-white. Maybe the brightness of the moon makes planetary color and
magnitude hard to judge. Other, less likely, choices could be Jupiter
(about 30 degrees above and to the right of the moon around midnight)
and Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus (about 50 degrees to the right of the
moon). Sounds like Saturn may be the best bet.
Dave
free@auhsdot edu wrote:
>
> Hey meteorob buddies,
>
> Last night, 12/13, while waiting for some meteors I started
> identifying constellations. At one point to the east of Triangulum I
> noticed a small, but bright star only a few degrees away from the moon.
>
> Even though it was half the size of Capella it seemed to be at
> least as bright in magnitude as Capella even though it is so much smaller.
> It was so near the moon I couldn't see any associated constellation so I
> couldn't get this blue/white beauty's name. Anybody know?
>
> Thanks, Philly Bill
>
> William M. Free
> FREE@auhsdot edu
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