Is Polaris exceptionally bright tonight? (McLean, The Plains: to live in, club, cabins)

[VRE332]

I am looking in the Western sky tonight, and it seems that whatever it is, possibly Polaris, looks extremely bright. I have used Google Sky Map on my phone to determine that it might be Polaris.

[sullyguy]

Is it's to the west instead of...you know...due north it's probably not Polaris.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by sullyguy

Is it's to the west instead of...you know...due north it's probably not Polaris.

It might have been Jupiter, but it was so crystal clear and huge in the sky. I thought it was a plane approaching us.

[sullyguy]

This might help: Night Sky

[EuroExpat]

Not meaning to hijack the thread but where is a good place to go look at the stars (and night sky)? There is too much light in the urban areas..

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by EuroExpat

Not meaning to hijack the thread but where is a good place to go look at the stars (and night sky)? There is too much light in the urban areas..

THat sounds like an excellent searchable questio via Google - something like "best Virginia sky view" or something - unfortunately, I'm on the "wrong computer" to try that right now so you'll have to head over to Google and try a few things.

I've read, somewhere, that The Plains is good but have nothing to refer to about that.

EDIT: It's not The Plains but instead http://www.novac.com/big-meadows/ (broken link)

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by EuroExpat

Not meaning to hijack the thread but where is a good place to go look at the stars (and night sky)? There is too much light in the urban areas..

Algonkian Park, since there aren't many urban lights in the park, it's next to the river and across the river is another park without urban lights. My kids stayed in one of the cabins there once and they were amazed at how many stars they saw. Tarara Winery is also a good place.

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by Caladium

they were amazed at how many stars they saw

In a different lifetime I used to live in McLean - I wondered at the beauty of the Milky Way overhead (timeframe probably pre-Beltway)..

Now I live out near Dulles and am lucky to see stars. I've shown my daughter the numerous videos online that show the Milky Way, for example:


Stunning Time-Lapse Video of Australian Night Sky. - YouTube

but I know she really hasn't got a clue about it.

[Smoke_Jaguar4]

Originally Posted by sullyguy

THat sounds like an excellent searchable questio via Google - something like "best Virginia sky view" or something - unfortunately, I'm on the "wrong computer" to try that right now so you'll have to head over to Google and try a few things.

I've read, somewhere, that The Plains is good but have nothing to refer to about that.

EDIT: It's not The Plains but instead Big Meadows Observing (http://www.novac.com/big-meadows/ - broken link)

NOVAC has a public viewing next Saturday, 21 April:
The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) (http://www.novac.com/outreach/gmeadow.php - broken link)

[EuroExpat]

Originally Posted by Smoke_Jaguar4

NOVAC has a public viewing next Saturday, 21 April:
The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) (http://www.novac.com/outreach/gmeadow.php - broken link)

That looks great! Thanks for sharing.