How to see five planets in one night over the UK

Efour · 10 Mar 2012 at 13:48

This is pretty cool if its not cloudy in London ill poke my head out of the window a few times tonight.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17324826

Ive seen Venus and Jupiter loads recently but the others ive never really looked out for.

Comets and International Space Stations... its been a pretty busy lately

Jokester · 10 Mar 2012 at 13:50

If you have a decent set of binoculars, you can also see some of the moons of Jupiter.

Efour · 10 Mar 2012 at 13:53

Iv'e got a crap set ill try

Jongo · 10 Mar 2012 at 14:03

Totally going to get out my telescope for this so long as its clear.

zipp0r · 10 Mar 2012 at 15:09

ive seen jupiter, venus, mars and saturn over the past week.

geekyEd · 10 Mar 2012 at 15:26

I was sure I was looking at planet just under the moon last night, was very bright and didn't seem the usual colour that stars are. I have no clue about astronomy at all but would be interested to have a look tonight.

ToejaM · 10 Mar 2012 at 15:44

Gunna be getting my google sky map on tonight!

Ahleckz · 10 Mar 2012 at 17:43

That wasn't particularly clear, can you explain which direction I should be looking at and how to ID each planet? Whilst I can point to the bright, non twinkling things in the sky and say "that's a planet" it's a bit nicer to know which one it is.

ins0mn1ac · 10 Mar 2012 at 18:47

BluZiff said:
I was sure I was looking at planet just under the moon last night, was very bright and didn't seem the usual colour that stars are. I have no clue about astronomy at all but would be interested to have a look tonight.

Pretty sure it was Venus!

PinkFloyd · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:03

To those with Android phones - install Google Skymap - should help identify stars

http://www.google.com/mobile/skymap/

ilcp · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:42

i have seen some "bright" stars around moon, are they planets? how powerful a telescope has to be to actually see them?

Wizzfizz · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:43

Jokester said:
If you have a decent set of binoculars, you can also see some of the moons of Jupiter.

Spying on your next door hottie doesn't count.

Rroff · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:45

Another vote for google sky map... awesome app.

Skii · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:50

Mars is looking very bright and red tonight. Google sky map, just the best app...ever...

zipp0r · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:14

ins0mn1ac said:
Pretty sure it was Venus!

nope venus was in the west, only saturn is in the east with the moon and mars south and high up.

panyan · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:17

just downloaded the google sky app, shoved my camera in my pocket and hurried downstairs with only flipflops on - COMPLETELY overcast!!!

waited for half an hour for the clouds the clear - they didnt - and now i have a cold

Skii · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:32

panyan said:
just downloaded the google sky app, shoved my camera in my pocket and hurried downstairs with only flipflops on - COMPLETELY overcast!!!

waited for half an hour for the clouds the clear - they didnt - and now i have a cold

You caught a virus from going outside?

PermaBanned · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:33

Step one: leave the UK.

FBi7 · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:41

ToejaMz0r said:
Gunna be getting my google sky map on tonight!

This. Overcast here in the west mids, so I'll watch venus collide with jupiter on skymap.

Before everyone else freeks out and nuclear war ensues, venus doesn't really collide with juptier, she just passes in front.

DELETED_63174 · 10 Mar 2012 at 21:23

Cloudy in Newcastle, I'll give it another shot tomorrow. I love stuff like this.