# Is it Venus or Jupiter that's so bright?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361 "2012-09-21T05:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/1 "2012-09-21T05:31:38Z")
After 2 a.m. in the east - southeast sky, there is a ridiculously bright planet. Is it Venus or Jupiter? ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/2 "2012-09-21T05:35:22Z")
Venus ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/3 "2012-09-21T06:15:23Z")
Thx. Should have known, it’s ALWAYS Venus. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/4 "2012-09-21T09:57:58Z")
As an aside - if you have a modern phone the skymap apps you can get are very good. Handy for identifying stuff when you’re out and there’s a clear night sky. I keep meaning to show my young son the international space station when it flies over but it seems to do so in the wee hours where I am. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/5 "2012-09-21T10:04:39Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Venus Are you sure? As in, did you check a sky chart? Jupiter is also very bright, and Venus isn’t usually visible at 2AM. > [@salinqmind](#): > > Thx. Should have known, it’s ALWAYS Venus. Not always, Jupiter is also brighter than any star. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/6 "2012-09-21T10:15:46Z")
Found your location in your profile, and generated a [sky chart](http://www.heavens-above.com/skychart.aspx?SL=1&SN=1&lat=43.07892&lng=-76.21216&loc=New+York&alt=2&tz=EST). I think you are looking at Jupiter, as Venus doesn’t rise until 3:16. Is it high in the sky, or near the horizon? ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/7 "2012-09-21T10:21:58Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > After 2 a.m. in the east - southeast sky, there is a ridiculously bright planet. Is it Venus or Jupiter? Right now, if it’s the high (~40 degrees alt) bright (-2.3) object just a little south of due east, it’s Jupiter. Venus doesn’t rise until 3am. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/8 "2012-09-21T10:25:31Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > As an aside - if you have a modern phone the skymap apps you can get are very good. Handy for identifying stuff when you’re out and there’s a clear night sky. > I keep meaning to show my young son the international space station when it flies over but it seems to do so in the wee hours where I am. Is there one in particular you’d recommend? For IPhone. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/9 "2012-09-21T12:58:44Z")
Then it might be Jupiter? It’s about midway between the horizon and overhead, in the early hours between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. I thought it was Jupiter. There is no other bright planet near it as far as I can tell. This one is really really big and bright. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/10 "2012-09-21T13:04:20Z")
Venus is always close to the sun. You’re never going to see it at 2AM except in times and places where the sun rises before 4 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/11 "2012-09-21T13:34:20Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Then it might be Jupiter? It’s about midway between the horizon and overhead, in the early hours between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. I thought it was Jupiter. There is no other bright planet near it as far as I can tell. This one is really really big and bright. It’s definitely Jupiter then. It’s in the constellation Taurus if you can make that out. This also proves astrology works. When Jupiter is in Taurus, the first response you’ll get to any GQ question will be bull. > [@Gorsnak](#): > > Venus is always close to the sun. You’re never going to see it at 2AM except in times and places where the sun rises before 4 or so. Venus is usually close to the Sun, because it’s orbit is within that of Earth’s. However, the maximum angle between Venus and the Sun is about 45 degrees, so it can sometimes be seen up to 3 hours after sunset or 3 hours before sunrise (provided I’ve got my maths right). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/12 "2012-09-21T13:51:43Z")
> **[This Week's Sky At a Glance Archives](https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/)** > > See this week's sky at a glance with observing tips and maps to guide you to the night sky. Don't miss out on comets, meteors, eclipses, and more! updated each week other resources on their site are very helpful also (look for their interactive sky chart) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/13 "2012-09-21T14:08:14Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Venus is usually close to the Sun, because it’s orbit is within that of Earth’s. However, the maximum angle between Venus and the Sun is about 45 degrees, so it can sometimes be seen up to 3 hours after sunset or 3 hours before sunrise (provided I’ve got my maths right). Sounds about right to me. I didn’t do any of the research required to give a precise answer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/14 "2012-09-21T14:35:09Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Is there one in particular you’d recommend? For IPhone. Thanks! I use Google Sky Map and love it, but I have an Android so I don’t know if it’s available on an iPhone. If it is I’d recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/15 "2012-09-21T14:40:10Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I use Google Sky Map and love it, but I have an Android so I don’t know if it’s available on an iPhone. If it is I’d recommend it. It isn’t. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/16 "2012-09-21T14:42:50Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > It isn’t. ☹ Ah, bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/17 "2012-09-21T14:45:51Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Is there one in particular you’d recommend? For IPhone. Thanks! Not sure how it is on iPhone, but on our iPad, I like GoSkyWatch Planetarium. It uses your device’s accelerometers and positioning sensors to detect where and what angle you’re holding it. So, you basically hold your device up, point it at what you want to identify in the sky, and it tells you what it is. On Android, Google Sky Map does pretty much the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/18 "2012-09-21T15:32:14Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > It’s definitely Jupiter then. It’s in the constellation Taurus if you can make that out. > > This also proves astrology works. When Jupiter is in Taurus, the first response you’ll get to any GQ question will be bull. > > Venus is usually close to the Sun, because it’s orbit is within that of Earth’s. However, the maximum angle between Venus and the Sun is about 45 degrees, so it can sometimes be seen up to 3 hours after sunset or 3 hours before sunrise (provided I’ve got my maths right). Yep. But you won’t see it at 2 a.m, which is really 1 a.m. by the Sun, thanks to daylight saving - in other words, about an hour from solar midnight. I saw Jupiter through my bedroom window a week or two back round about the time of night the OP mentions and I was struck by how bright it was - but then, if it’s opposite the Sun or thereabouts then (a) it’s more or less as near to us as it gets, although its brightness is _far_ less sensitive to this than Mars’s, and (b) it’s in as dark a sky as it can be, and will look all the brighter by contrast. Jupiter tends to looks faintly yellow-white, whereas Venus looks almost blue-white to me. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/19 "2012-09-21T15:41:34Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Is there one in particular you’d recommend? For IPhone. Thanks! I use the free version of Distant Suns on my iPhone. The paid version has a lot more features built into it that probably help if you are a complete astronomy newbie (like updating the screen based on which direction you are facing and such). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361/20 "2012-09-21T16:07:19Z")
If you’ve ever seen Jupiter and Venus together, it’s pretty obvious which one is brighter. And you’re not even seeing all of Venus! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-venus-or-jupiter-thats-so-bright/635361.md?page=2)