'UFO Sightings' Could Soon Explode, Thanks to Venus


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Planetariums, observatories, weather offices and perhaps even police stations should be prepared to receive a bevy of inquiries during the next couple of weeks concerning a strange "UFO" that will soon be making appearances low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

The unusual lateness of sunrise may add to the confusion for skywatchers, since it coincides with the sudden arrival of the bright sky apparition. But there's no need to be alarmed.

That bright light in the sky is only the planet Venus, which returns to visibility Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Venus' bright arrival comes in the midst of likely darkness for those who are heading out to work and school in the morning.

Venus will be 20 degrees high at sunrise on Nov. 16, and 27 degrees on Nov. 25 as seen from Northern Hemisphere locations around 40 degrees north latitude.

As November ends, Venus rises a full three hours before the sun and hangs almost 30 degrees high at sunrise. Venus will brighten impressively throughout the month. For early morning commuters, who will likely wonder about this brilliant luminary bursting upon the predawn scene, Venus will no doubt call attention to itself.

Located at about 160 million miles from Earth on these occasions, Venus is moving at its slowest speed against the background stars. What's more, it is also moving in the same apparent direction against the stars as the sun ? to the east.

So in the days leading up to and then even after superior conjunction, Venus continues to languish in the bright glare of the sun.

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I always make it a habit to look for planets at night or in the morning. It sounds nerdy, but I love astronomy. I love it when I can point out Jupiter, Venus, and some other planets without having to look anything up.

exactly how visible will it be or will I need to use my telescope?

You won't need a telescope. Even if there are visible stars near it, Venus will still out-shine everything but the Moon.

P.S. - Astronomy is awesome. :cool:

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It's surprising how bright the planets can get, I saw a bright point of light in the sky ages ago and thought it was a plane, but night after night it was in the same spot.

I finally got around to finding out what it was, and I found it was Jupiter.

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