Mars, Venus, and Jupiter visible tonight.

[ThePenguin]

I'm not sure if this is a spring thing but at least tonight Mars, Venus, and Jupiter are all visible. Mars is towards the east, I believe, and Venus and Jupiter are to the west (Venus is really bright and right next to Jupiter). I was walking back from a late lab and I saw a red dot in the sky that I assumed was Mars. I pulled out my phone (after exclaiming, "Wait, we live in the future!" ) and checked with Google Sky Map and indeed it was Mars. My friend said that the other two bright ones were probably Jupiter and Venus and indeed they were.

Three planets at once. Cool! Thought I'd share for any star gazers we may have.

[jeri559]

I've been watching them for days and enjoyed the beautiful full moon the last week. The moon seemed bigger this time and Venus the brightest I've seen in many years. It must be at it's closest to earth.

[icebear]

the hubbs and i went out and looked, it was real cool until the clouds rolled in

[ginseng]

Why have I never heard of Google Sky Map??? I'm off to check it out!

gin

[ThePenguin]

Why have I never heard of Google Sky Map??? I'm off to check it out!

gin

I should mention that it's a mobile app for Android, but if you have an Android phone you should be able to find it in the market (now "Google Play").

[Jlutz]

I got out my telescope tonight with the kids and we got to see venus and jupiter, along with 3 of its moons. Unfortunatly it was pretty overcast here in Houston tonight, but between the clouds we could make out the red stripes on jupiter.

Its a really cool thing to show the kids that.

It also puts things in perspective when you think about how magnificant the universe is.

[Steve53]

It also puts things in perspective when you think about how magnificant the universe is.

And that God holds it all in the span of his hand.

[Musician in His house]

I should mention that it's a mobile app for Android, but if you have an Android phone you should be able to find it in the market (now "Google Play").

Can you imagine what Galileo and the other old astronomers would have thought if they knew that we would one day be able to look at the planets and stars on a handheld device?? Imagine what they would have done with Google Sky Map!!

[carol1948]

I've been watching Venus and Jupiter too; but didn't realize that Mars was in the east. I'll look for it tonight. I had thought that Jupiter was the brightest of the two I'm seeing (Venus and Jupiter) because it is supposedly bigger than Venus; but, now I understand that Venus is much closer to us, and that Jupiter is only visible now because it has moved closer to earth than it normally is. I'm not at all knowledgeable about the heavens, planets, stars, etc., but I now find myself looking up [in eager anticipation] much more often than I did in years past, so I'm taking more notice. Thanks for opening this thread.

[Alex]

They don't hold a candle to PLUTO!!

[carol1948]

They don't hold a candle to PLUTO!!

Okay, I'll bite. Is Pluto visible with the naked eye, and if yes, where in the sky is it?

[ThePenguin]

Can you imagine what Galileo and the other old astronomers would have thought if they knew that we would one day be able to look at the planets and stars on a handheld device?? Imagine what they would have done with Google Sky Map!!

We've come quite a long way in 500 years, haven't we. Imagine trying to explain to someone 500 years ago: "Yes, Mr. Galilei, one day you will be able to hold a small slab in your hand, point it at the heavens, and it will show you where all of the starts and planets are." You could probably get away with explaining electricity to them but even the concept of a screen would seem strange and magical. I recently saw this commercial for the Univac computer in 1952:



After my friends and I watched that video I used Facebook on my phone. Technology fascinates me. We found this gem too (sorry, this is kind of off-topic lol):



I love the part where it says "Richard Halloran - Owns Home Computer". It seems ridiculous now that owning a computer was something that wasn't accessible to everybody but that's how it used to be (I'm sure the older members remember seeing all of the computer commercials throughout the 70s and 80s). My mom worked for a bank for 17 years and she remembers having to dial a number and put the phone on a coupler just to connect to the internet.

[Steve53]

.....she remembers having to dial a number and put the phone on a coupler just to connect to the internet.

The early internet version of two cans and a string.

[Alex]

Okay, I'll bite. Is Pluto visible with the naked eye, and if yes, where in the sky is it?

I beg your pardon, my eyes are never naked in public.

Pluto is visible once a year within a short time frame after Oct 2 but before Oct 3. The best way to view this great ninth wonder of the world is by placing a mason jar over your weak eye (Without lid) and looking to the southeast.

Good luck and happy Pluto hunting.

We now return you back to the boring world of planet Earth...