# Startling object in night sky **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 2, 2010, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651 "2010-12-02T11:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/1 "2010-12-02T11:26:22Z")
I just saw the brightest celestial object I’ve ever seen in the night sky (other than the Moon, of course). It was striking. I kept watching it to see if it was moving, like a plane or satellite, but it wasn’t. Apparently, it’s Venus, and it is brilliant this morning. It’s on the crescent Moon’s upper left. See here for [details](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40460272/ns/technology_and_science-space/). ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/2 "2010-12-02T12:46:11Z")
Oh joy! I’m going out to look now. * * * overcast, boo! I didn’t want to see you anyway, Venus :o ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/3 "2010-12-02T13:19:56Z")
Shoot. Couldn’t see it either, complete cloud cover here too. Well, robby’s link contains another link that says Venus will appear brightest Dec 4th. So there’s still hope yet for me to check it out. Interesting thread! Thanks for the heads up! ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/4 "2010-12-02T15:24:57Z")
Ancients didn’t call it Lucifer (“Light Bringer”) for nothin’. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/5 "2010-12-02T15:53:13Z")
Does that mean that Venus is new as well as the Moon? Worth checking out with a telescope if so. Seeing Venus as a crescent is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/6 "2010-12-02T16:00:36Z")
I saw it this morning, too, as I walked to the gym at about 4:30. You’re right - it was remarkably bright. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/7 "2010-12-02T16:59:57Z")
I saw it, didn’t know what it was. But I had my phone on me and used Google Sky (or whatever app name is) to ID it. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startling-object-in-night-sky/562651/8 "2010-12-02T17:40:27Z")
I noticed that too, first thinking it had to be a plane it was so bright. A cool front had come through too leaving the sky unusually clear. Yep, its brightness was remarkable.