Comments on: Fomalhaut: First visible extrasolar planet http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky A Clear Voice for Science Thu, 24 May 2012 12:03:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: EarthSky http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-226837 EarthSky Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:53:05 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-226837 Hi Betsy, it's Venus. Hi Betsy, it’s Venus.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-226222 Larry Sessions Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:30:27 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-226222 Betsy, It sounds like Sirius, in Canis Major, but it rises in the southeast about 10 p.m. By 4:30 a.m. it is well up in the southwestern sky. At about 4:30 to 5 a.m. the bright star Spica and even brighter planet Venus are rising in the east-southeast (I am assuming that you are in the Northern Hemisphere.) Usually Venus doesn't sparkle per se, but maybe that is what it is you are seeing. Betsy,
It sounds like Sirius, in Canis Major, but it rises in the southeast about 10 p.m. By 4:30 a.m. it is well up in the southwestern sky. At about 4:30 to 5 a.m. the bright star Spica and even brighter planet Venus are rising in the east-southeast (I am assuming that you are in the Northern Hemisphere.) Usually Venus doesn’t sparkle per se, but maybe that is what it is you are seeing.

]]> By: Betsy Howell http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-226211 Betsy Howell Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:17:22 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-226211 Dear Plant Lovers~~I have a simple question! Can you please tell me the large bright yellow sparkly star (planet) that comes up around 4:30 am in the southern sky? Thank you! Sincerely, Betsy Howell Dear Plant Lovers~~I have a simple question! Can you please tell me the large bright yellow sparkly star (planet) that comes up around 4:30 am in the southern sky? Thank you!

Sincerely,

Betsy Howell

]]> By: Marianna Glad http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-157249 Marianna Glad Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:49:05 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-157249 Fredrick Hoffman Fredrick Hoffman

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-21932 Larry Sessions Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:39:29 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-21932 I do not know exactly where the locations you are referring to are. I am not particularly familiar with Voyager (I presume the software), but if it accounts for precession and you have the right geographic location, I'm sure it is reasonably correct but would not be considered rigorous enough for any real scientific investigation. I don't have access to any specialized software for that, either, but I did check this in Starry Night, and for the location of presentday Montpelier, in 450 BC the rise and set points were within a degree or so of 150 and 210 degrees azimuth. So I suspect that your data is at least roughly correct. I do not know exactly where the locations you are referring to are. I am not particularly familiar with Voyager (I presume the software), but if it accounts for precession and you have the right geographic location, I’m sure it is reasonably correct but would not be considered rigorous enough for any real scientific investigation. I don’t have access to any specialized software for that, either, but I did check this in Starry Night, and for the location of presentday Montpelier, in 450 BC the rise and set points were within a degree or so of 150 and 210 degrees azimuth. So I suspect that your data is at least roughly correct.

]]> By: Larry Hancock http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-21926 Larry Hancock Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:00:43 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-21926 In Vermont there is a focus on these two directions at several megalithic sites. According to Voyager 4.5, the only bright star that would have risen and set in these directions would have been Fomalhaut, about 450 AD. Can you verify or deny this? The rising over Mt. Ascutney from what is known as Calendar II would have preceeded the summer solstice. And the setting from the McIntosh Chamber would have been about the time of Samhain. In Vermont there is a focus on these two directions at several megalithic sites. According to Voyager 4.5, the only bright star that would have risen and set in these directions would have been Fomalhaut, about 450 AD. Can you verify or deny this? The rising over Mt. Ascutney from what is known as Calendar II would have preceeded the summer solstice. And the setting from the McIntosh Chamber would have been about the time of Samhain.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-15425 Larry Sessions Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:46:31 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-15425 Larry Hancock, If I am understanding your request, I do not know where information such as this might be available. Unless you have some specific criteria in mind, such as a particular anglular distance from the Sun or length of time before sunrise -- that is, something that can be calculated -- I don't see that it would even be possible to tabulate anything since helical risings at least in ancient times depended on the visual acuity of the observer as well as local topography and weather. Time of helical rising also is dependent on geographic location and even the time period (e.g., now or thousands of years ago). Today Fomalhaut rises at about 150 degrees and sets at 210 degrees azimuth from the far North, roughly 55 degrees latitude. May I ask why you are interested in this information? Larry Hancock,
If I am understanding your request, I do not know where information such as this might be available. Unless you have some specific criteria in mind, such as a particular anglular distance from the Sun or length of time before sunrise — that is, something that can be calculated — I don’t see that it would even be possible to tabulate anything since helical risings at least in ancient times depended on the visual acuity of the observer as well as local topography and weather. Time of helical rising also is dependent on geographic location and even the time period (e.g., now or thousands of years ago). Today Fomalhaut rises at about 150 degrees and sets at 210 degrees azimuth from the far North, roughly 55 degrees latitude. May I ask why you are interested in this information?

]]> By: Larry Hancock http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-15422 Larry Hancock Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:09:52 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-15422 Can anyone tell me the hellical rise and set dates when Fomalhaut rose at 150 degrees and set at 210 degrees? Can anyone tell me the hellical rise and set dates when Fomalhaut rose at 150 degrees and set at 210 degrees?

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-14403 Larry Sessions Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:43:45 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-14403 David, to follow up on my earlier comment, just last night (11/30) I observed Fomalhaut low in the southwestern sky and it did twinkle a lot, although not as much as Sirius. But what really struck me is that as it stood there all alone, it appeared to move back and forth and up and down just a little. It is a very strange sensation and can be confusing to many people. However, the star was not moving. Such apparent motions are not real, but are either the effects of atmospheric disturbances, or mire likely the natural tendency of the human eye to jump around a little. Our brain compensates for this most of the time, when there is a lot in view, but when there is an isolated point, the "jitteriness" of the human eye becomes apparent. David, to follow up on my earlier comment, just last night (11/30) I observed Fomalhaut low in the southwestern sky and it did twinkle a lot, although not as much as Sirius. But what really struck me is that as it stood there all alone, it appeared to move back and forth and up and down just a little. It is a very strange sensation and can be confusing to many people. However, the star was not moving. Such apparent motions are not real, but are either the effects of atmospheric disturbances, or mire likely the natural tendency of the human eye to jump around a little. Our brain compensates for this most of the time, when there is a lot in view, but when there is an isolated point, the “jitteriness” of the human eye becomes apparent.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/solitary-fomalhaut-guards-the-southern-sky/comment-page-1#comment-14354 Larry Sessions Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:42:53 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=4218#comment-14354 David, Without knowing when and where you are looking, I cannot say with absolute certainty, but chances are very good that you are referring to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky: http://earthsky.org/tonightpost/brightest-stars/sirius-the-brightest-star This time of year it rises in mid to late evening in the southeastern sky, and sets around sunrise in the southwestern sky. David,
Without knowing when and where you are looking, I cannot say with absolute certainty, but chances are very good that you are referring to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky: http://earthsky.org/tonightpost/brightest-stars/sirius-the-brightest-star
This time of year it rises in mid to late evening in the southeastern sky, and sets around sunrise in the southwestern sky.

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