Astronomy/star/planet id

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Expert: - 7/8/2010


Question
I was looking west from Wailea in Maui at 8:30 last night ( July 7, 2010) and there was an extremely bright celestial body. Can you tell me what it was?

Answer
That was Venus. It will be gradually getting lower and setting earlier over the summer, but will continue to be the brightest object in the western sky for several weeks.

Incidentally, Mars is also visible, 7 to 15 degrees to the east (left) of Venus, and Saturn as well, about 30 degrees to the east (left) of Mars. In between Mars and Saturn is the constellation of Leo, with Regulus as its brightest star. However, Mars, Saturn and Regulus are 20 to 50 times fainter than Venus, so it has to get a little darker to easily see them.

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Volunteer

Courtney Seligman

Expertise

I can answer almost any question about astronomy and related sciences, such as physics and geology. I will not answer questions about astrology and similar pseudo-scientific rubbish.

Experience

I have been a professor of astronomy for over 40 years, and am working on an online text/encyclopedia of astronomy.

Publications
Astronomical Journal, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (too long ago to be really relevant, but you could search for Courtney Seligman on Google Scholar)

Education/Credentials
I received a BA in astronomy and physics and a MA in astronomy, both from UCLA. I was working on my doctoral dissertation when I started teaching, and discovered that I preferred teaching to research.

Awards and Honors
(too long ago to be relevant, but Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi still keep trying to get me to become a paying member)

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