Community Chat

[Mz iMac]

The bright star is Venus next to the half moon.  First time I noticed that planet to be so bright.  According to the local news it is called a celestrial event.

Took this photo tonight (5/18/26) during my dog's last potty break before bedtime @ around 9:45 PM.

[twinsister]

I saw it around 9:30 - it was amazing!

[LisaMofSLC]

There will also be a blue moon this month. The 31st, I think.

[TerryNJ]

Beautiful, thank you for the pictures.

[Goldengate8361]

@Mz iMac thanks for posting this. I've always wondered how folks can differentiate stars from planets.... I must not have a good eye for this. Thanks for pointing this out. 

[Still Raining]

Wonderful picture.  We don't have any light interference up here, but I sure missed this one.

[Mz iMac]

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@Goldengate8361 wrote:

@Mz iMac thanks for posting this. I've always wondered how folks can differentiate stars from planets.... I must not have a good eye for this. Thanks for pointing this out. 

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@Goldengate8361  You're welcome.

Since I've always lived in highrise apts w/balcony I've always had an astronomy tri-pod telescope as I enjoy star & comet watching.  A pictorial astronomy book came w/the telescope.  That is how I learned to "find" planets & comets.  However, it's not one w/a camera.  Planets are easy to see.  Stars you cannot "see"  w/a store bought telescope.  You need those giant ones the astronomers uses.  Just a twinkle far off in the distant from the ground.

From the ground:  Mars is reddish (the red planet) & bright.  

Venus & Jupiter are not as bright as Mars just larger.

Mercury - I can only see it on a clear night & only for a few minutes then it's gone.  I live in the boonies so the sky is jet black.  No city lights interfering. 

I have been hinting to family members & paramour about astronomy binoculars as my B-day is next month.  At my age is time to star gaze w/BOTH eyes while lying down on a lounge chair. 

The only thing I don't like about star gazing is that you have to keep moving the telescope because the earth is rotating.  It's more noticeable star gazing than than not.

Last night I used my flip phone to take the pic.  It still has a film over the viewing window which I have not removed yet as I am still playing around w/it.

I am going to use my digital cam tonight & attempt to film from my balcony.  Hopefully, I can film a larger moon & planet which will be clearer.

[4kitties]

@Mz iMac 

You got a nice picture of this.  I was just barely able to see it last night as I was getting ready for bed. Was barely visible just above  our tree line.  I knew that was a planet near the moon but did not know it was Venus.  We live in an area with LOTS of trees and I cannot see the horizon because of them.