Bright spot in sky- just not sure what it is-don't have a star chart

The bright object is the planet Venus, which is brighter than at most times right now because of its geometric orientation to us and the sun. Most ofthe time when one looks at it through a telescope, it appears as a thin crescent. However, recently is appears as a more full gibbous disk, this having more reflective surface area visible to us and thus appearing brighter. You can even see this in any pair of good binoculars. Look at it now and then compare it's appearance six months from now. Since Venus orbits the sun closer in than we do, it alternates back and forth between being visible in the early evening, as it is now, to being visible just before sunrise.

It is now nearing the Summer Solstice on June 21st when the sunrise and sunset positions on the horizon are at their northernmost. So, yes, the sun is doing it's normal thing. Note it's sunset position each evening with a reference point on the horizon. It will continue to move north until June 21st when it will begin moving back southward.

There is a pretty good free interactive star chart at Astronomy magazine's web site at [link to stardome.astronomy.com] You can set it for your location, the date and time and it will show you what's where. You can also move the clock or date forward to see where things will be later.

Thank You for that info

I figured it was ok, but it's just so bright, and gaining brightness every night, we were'nt sure what it was :)!

With all the talk about the sun being in the wrong spot, I figured I'd eat a little humble pie and ask what I was'nt sure of :)!



Peace

You just recently saw this bright spot??
Its been there for the last couple years!!

P.S.: That link does'nt work. It's OK, I'll find one :).

Believe it or not I've been monitoring GRB's, but neglected to get a map of our own galaxy :)!

Sorry. Go to www.astronomy.com and then go to Star Dome on the left side of the page.

Just never noticed it so bright :)!

Plus, used to work nights :)!

Not the last couple of years. It alternates between being visible in the west after sunset and being visible in the east before sunrise. It completes five evening/morning cycles every eight years.

[link to www.johnpratt.com]