BBC Focus Magazine

[Thinker]

I was out driving last night and noticed two rather bright stars in the sky. I popped the android out my pocket and started up google sky to see what they were. It seemed to indicate Jupiter and Neptune, but they seemed awfully close together on the google sky, but quite far apart in the sky...

Er, did anyone else notice them and if so, was my google map right?

[M Paul Lloyd]

Star map software like Stellarium or Google tend to show a lot more sky than you actually see for yourself otherwise it would not fit in, much the same goes for the star maps published in books and magazines for much the same reason, 'the sky', to quote a certain film 'is one big arsed place' so it looks more 'spread out' in real life is all.

[Lateralman]

I saw them around 9.30 pm whilst bringing in the wolf. They were North West low on the horizon and very, very distinct. Will look tonight.

[nemisis39]

i saw two last night (11th) thought 1 was a star and the other the iss

[Lateralman]

I saw them again and whilst looking my attention was drawn to a rustling sound coming from my garage. I went to look and guess what! Three camels were huddled at the far end!

What does it all mean?

[nemisis39]

I saw them again and whilst looking my attention was drawn to a rustling sound coming from my garage. I went to look and guess what! Three camels were huddled at the far end!

What does it all mean?

it means the zoo is missing 3 camels but dont say anything the might get the hump

groan ill get me coat

[M Paul Lloyd]

He could be on about those nasty cigarettes you know.

[ChrisH]

Or maybe he accidentally went into an aircraft hanger instead and saw 3 old Sopwith biplanes.

[Thinker]

And, er, what is it we appear to be talking about here?

[Shadowwolf]

Mr ChrisH doth refer to the Sopwith Camel as being the camel in question, it was a venerable bi-plane that saw service in WWII.

If you refer to Mr Lateral's garage encounter, pretty sure that's a result of ingesting peyote or other hallucinogenic.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Ah yes I see, that Camel, so named because of the humped back appearance to the rear cowling and cockpit fairing, Biggles new it well.

[nemisis39]

They were there again last night (14th) and the night before seem to be a little closer together last night, could be the angle i was looking from, although i was out side the front of my house in more or less the same postion. Also one on the right (as i looked at it ) looked a lot bigger and brighter isn't there a planet alignment some time this year ohh no there isn't.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

so its not an early line up.

[Lateralman]

Evidently, there are no Wise men on this thread. Only Wise guys.

[nemisis39]

well thats mpl chrish and shadow all over

[nemisis39]

could the brightest star be this

preview-of-a-forthcoming-supernova-t2547.html

[MikeG]

Evidently, there are no Wise men on this thread. Only Wise guys.

Nice one.

[Lateralman]

Have to find some way of amusing myself when the soaps are on.

Don’t tell the misses but there are no stars to be seen there.

[...]

sos, ive been away a while, the 2 bright objects you are witnessing are doubtlessly venus and juipter.
now, 2 wks or so after the original post venus is still riding high in the evening sky over towards the west with jupiter due west at 20.30 tonight and somewhat nearer the horizon than venus.
jupiter will fade and be lost to view by around 24th april but venus will stay put for some time yet.

P.S venus goes through phases just like the sun, crescent, gibbous etc. but you need a telescope to view it

P.P.S neptune isnt and has not been visible for quite some time as it is high in the sky throughout the day

[nemisis39]

so its not a camel then