Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 11/11/2007

Question
While in Penang, Malaysia Nov 4-12, at around 6 in the morning, while looking East, I've noticed a very brightly lit object.  With some cheap, small travel binoculars it appears to me that this might be a ringed planet.  IS this possible?  If so, which one?

Highest Regards,
Scott

Answer
Hi Scott,
What you feel is a planet with rings may be the result of some aberration in your binoculars.
Chiefly because Saturn the main ringed planet (one of many others with rings such as neptune etc) in our system is a fairly faint planet, and its rings cannot be resolved using a cheap travel binoc.
I suspect you saw either jupiter or venus, both being very very bright. I am sure it is most likely venus, as it tends to be the evening / morning "star" depending upon its orbital position.

Venus is currently a morning star:-
ref:- http://stardate.org/nightsky/almanac/

regards
Jayen

Scott, Your note in the rating, made me wonder...are you a virgo by any chance?..
One thing else, I lived in Penang and worked for Dell Computer's Asia Pacific center there. For 2 years....around 2001. I lived in the Bukit Jambul Apartments complex, and for a time in the Bukit Dumbar Aparts opposite Penang Hill, and for a while in the simply wonderful Hotel Seri Malaysia!
Last of all, I was for a year in the Sunny-Ville luxury apartments opposite the Penang Bridge!
Enjoy your stay in Penang, The Malays are the most enlightened Muslims there are!
Jayen