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Question
Last night, February 8, 2009, in the area of Venus a bright light appeared. Much brighter than normal Venus and even radiant. Was this indeed Venus and if so was it due to the full moon????? If not Venus what was it????????
Hello,
In all likelihood, it was Venus, at magnitude (-4.6). It is now the second most brilliant object after the full Moon. (I have also, over the past several decades, often had people phone or write me in astonishment when confronted by the crescent Venus. Seems few can believe it really is!)
If you still are skeptical then I can send a UFO report form for you to fill out with more details.
Not sure what you mean by "much brighter than normal Venus and even radiant". You may wish to clarify that in any follow-up. Venus is basically normal at the brightness it dipslays at any one time. There is no "normal" brightness other than that appropriate for a specific phase and distance.
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Answers by Expert:
Philip Stahl
Expertise
I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.
Experience
Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.
Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union
Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.
Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics
Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research
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