Look at the Moon!
 

Quick! Go outside and look at the moon! Do you see a bright object right next to it? I've called three people in three different states and they all see it, do you?

What could it be? Can you get a pic?

So far all i've guessed is its a star somewhere having some kind of an event...

-q :ahh:

p.s. attached a crappy photo of it with my cam phone.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Hey, I just went outside, and I see it too.
That is really spectacular! If anyone finds out exactly what it is, I'd like to know.:yikes:
Too bad I'm at my dad's and I don't have my camera with me.:(

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

From a SpaceWeather.com Email:

pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

My dad says it happens about every ten years, so astronomically it is a very common thing. ;)

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Sure am glad other people saw this, thought i was crazy for a moment.

Thanks guys,

-q

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Thanks for the tip, I just went and got a photo of it. Pardon it being slightly out of focus, it was the best I could get with this lens which is not very good.

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

There's nothing weird about the planet Venus. It's been there in pretty much the same place in the sky for weeks. The Moon just happens to be passing very near it tonight.

Check them out in binoculars -- when seen at high magnification, Venus is also revealed as a crescent.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Here is my submission. See any resemblance?

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Ha! As soon as I saw the thread title I knew what you going to say.

It's more common than you think. Astronomy Picture of the Day (a website of NASA) shows things like this all the time. Here is one of the more spectacular ones: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061030.html

One from March: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070324.html and December 2005: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051209.html. Both not as close but still surprises some people.

Here's one from Earth Science Picture of the Day, which mentions that the two has a conjunction (meets) on the 20th. Perhaps that's what Gabe's dad means by every ten years: http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=362976

Naturally, I missed it as it was raining. I can almost predict the weather by when things like this happen in the sky. :(

Both are pretty cool websites.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

It's times like these that I really wish the clouds over New England would go away.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Wow... it might be common to see but its still kewl.
Even from the city its bright, wish I was up on a mountain somewhere where the air is clear... bet its really something to see then! :D

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

this coughht my eye last night too it looked like the MEC flag from Battlefield 2

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Thats what sucks about being in Los Angeles county... you cant see things like this..

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

Before prom, my group went to Borders (We're nerds) and there were telescopes set out on their sidewalk to see Venus. A bunch of kids in prom dresses staring through telescopes must have been quite a sight!

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

These were by far the two brightest objects in the sky after sunset. Dark skies are not necessary. Unless your view of the sky was blocked, you could have seen this even standing in the middle of a well-lit football stadium.

The view in the western sky tonight will be similar, but with the crescent moon a little thicker and well above the planet Venus instead of right next to it.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

My photo was taken from Redondo Beach. You can see it.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

I was driving back from my cousin's home in San Marino that night and I saw it pretty well. I was on the 210 in the mountains heading towards the San Fernando Valley.

Re: Look at the Moon!
 

then it was proabably blocked by a tree or something.because i live in arcadia right next to san marino. ill look out for it tonight.

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

yes, i noticed it at a friends house and the first thing we thought of this event was "you know those creepy events on the old sci-fi shows where they are on the moon and....". this was quite unusual and it was pretty intriguing at the same time. quite a sight to see.

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

Hmm, our team had a cookout last night and i'm surprised nobody noticed this.

But, just now, our family went out and we could tell where venus and saturn were, similiar to this.

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

That is pretty cool looking.

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

Another cool thing to watch for is the International Space Station (ISS). Right after sundown or before sunrise is the best time. Just a bright star travelling across the sky until it disappears in the Earth's shadow.

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdat...ngs/index.html

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

Re: pic: Wierd Moon Object
 

For another great shot of this, see the "Astronomy Picture of the Day" from today (2007 May 23)