A pulsating star?

[dispatcher812]

I am going out for a long shot here hoping someone can help. Christams Eve Night I was loading my wifes car after an evening at my parents for Christmas. I looked up and saw a very interesting light in the sky. It was not moving so I knew it was not a plane. I then noticed it seemed to change color. Almost as if it was rotating. With the naked eye you could see red, blue, white and with binaculars I saw yellow and orange. I live in Eastern Connecticut, USA and was at an elevation of maybe 500 ft. I am guessing on the elevation as my town is at 400 but I was on a decent hill. the time was 1830 and it was in the SSW sky not far from the horizon. Any ideas? Thanks, Kevin

 

[Owain Taggart]

That would likely be Venus. Its visibility is increasing during the month of December, and the changing colours you saw is due to the prismatic effect due to the atmospheric conditions.

 

[Amaris]

Helicopter. Low orbit satellite. It could be any number of things.

 

[dispatcher812]

Helicopter. Low orbit satellite. It could be any number of things.

Don't think it was any of these as it stayed in one place for some time. It did seem to fade abit.

 

[Amaris]

Helicopter. Low orbit satellite. It could be any number of things.

Don't think it was any of these as it stayed in one place for some time. It did seem to fade abit.

In that case, Owain is probably correct. I didn't even know Venus was so visible in the night sky right now.

 

[MANT!]

The UN mind control geo-sat lost it's cloaking field..
Tin-Foil Hat time..

 

[dispatcher812]

Thanks guys. I have an "app" on my Google Chrome that is a planetarium and Venus was in that geberal area. I seconnd Santa Claus, I did not know it was that visable this time of year either.

 

[Amaris]

Thanks guys. I have an "app" on my Google Chrome that is a planetarium and Venus was in that geberal area. I seconnd Santa Claus, I did not know it was that visable this time of year either.

Yep. I'm terribly lazy. All I had to do was fire up Celestia and I could have seen the position of the planets from my location. Instead, I went for the easy answer.

 

[M'Sharak]

That would likely be Venus. Its visibility is increasing during the month of December, and the changing colours you saw is due to the prismatic effect due to the atmospheric conditions.

That would be my guess, also. I saw Venus last night (26th) in conjunction with the moon at much the same time and position that dispatcher describes - it was very bright, seeming much larger than most times of year. Other folks posted some pictures.

 

[Amaris]

That would likely be Venus. Its visibility is increasing during the month of December, and the changing colours you saw is due to the prismatic effect due to the atmospheric conditions.

That would be my guess, also. I saw Venus last night (26th) in conjunction with the moon at much the same time and position that dispatcher describes - it was very bright, seeming much larger than most times of year. Other folks posted some pictures.

Those pictures are awesome! I've never been able to get a shot like that! These people probably used DSLR cameras (holds breath hoping they used a digital camera).

Eh, the second pic (the most gorgeous) was taken with a Canon 50D DSLR ($1900!), and the first (which is still awesome) was taken with a Nikon D40x ($400 - not bad). I wonder what Canon A590 can do?

Edit: Huzzah! Nevermind. I love you Google.
I'm going to test my new settings tomorrow and see if I can't get a lovely night picture!

Sorry, back to the thread.

 

[The Castellan]

I am going out for a long shot here hoping someone can help. Christams Eve Night I was loading my wifes car after an evening at my parents for Christmas. I looked up and saw a very interesting light in the sky. It was not moving so I knew it was not a plane. I then noticed it seemed to change color. Almost as if it was rotating. With the naked eye you could see red, blue, white and with binaculars I saw yellow and orange. I live in Eastern Connecticut, USA and was at an elevation of maybe 500 ft. I am guessing on the elevation as my town is at 400 but I was on a decent hill. the time was 1830 and it was in the SSW sky not far from the horizon. Any ideas? Thanks, Kevin

You outta come over to my neck of the woods, the glowing orange orbs I saw in the sky a couple of years was awesome. Plus, back in 2002, I saw 2 odd items in the sky in the same 24 hours.

1: One was a cubical shaped, metallic object on one side of the clear, cloudless evening sky (sun was starting to set) and it pretty much 'winked' out, and before you could even blink, it reappeared on the opposite side of the sky.

2: That night, which was a clear sky, there was some light that was flying over the area of house, making no sounds, and as it was coming over me (it was very high, though) it actually faded slowly, like a ship cloaking on a Trek episode.

It's some pretty awesome stuff if one has both patience and an open mind one can see in the sky. If you wanna discuss any oddities you've seen in the skies, PM me, I'd love to hear 'em.

 

[Amaris]

I am going out for a long shot here hoping someone can help. Christams Eve Night I was loading my wifes car after an evening at my parents for Christmas. I looked up and saw a very interesting light in the sky. It was not moving so I knew it was not a plane. I then noticed it seemed to change color. Almost as if it was rotating. With the naked eye you could see red, blue, white and with binaculars I saw yellow and orange. I live in Eastern Connecticut, USA and was at an elevation of maybe 500 ft. I am guessing on the elevation as my town is at 400 but I was on a decent hill. the time was 1830 and it was in the SSW sky not far from the horizon. Any ideas? Thanks, Kevin

You outta come over to my neck of the woods, the glowing orange orbs I saw in the sky a couple of years was awesome. Plus, back in 2002, I saw 2 odd items in the sky in the same 24 hours.

1: One was a cubical shaped, metallic object on one side of the clear, cloudless evening sky (sun was starting to set) and it pretty much 'winked' out, and before you could even blink, it reappeared on the opposite side of the sky.

2: That night, which was a clear sky, there was some light that was flying over the area of house, making no sounds, and as it was coming over me (it was very high, though) it actually faded slowly, like a ship cloaking on a Trek episode.

It's some pretty awesome stuff if one has both patience and an open mind one can see in the sky. If you wanna discuss any oddities you've seen in the skies, PM me, I'd love to hear 'em.

I figure open eyes help you see the sky better than an open mind. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[The Castellan]

I am going out for a long shot here hoping someone can help. Christams Eve Night I was loading my wifes car after an evening at my parents for Christmas. I looked up and saw a very interesting light in the sky. It was not moving so I knew it was not a plane. I then noticed it seemed to change color. Almost as if it was rotating. With the naked eye you could see red, blue, white and with binaculars I saw yellow and orange. I live in Eastern Connecticut, USA and was at an elevation of maybe 500 ft. I am guessing on the elevation as my town is at 400 but I was on a decent hill. the time was 1830 and it was in the SSW sky not far from the horizon. Any ideas? Thanks, Kevin

You outta come over to my neck of the woods, the glowing orange orbs I saw in the sky a couple of years was awesome. Plus, back in 2002, I saw 2 odd items in the sky in the same 24 hours.

1: One was a cubical shaped, metallic object on one side of the clear, cloudless evening sky (sun was starting to set) and it pretty much 'winked' out, and before you could even blink, it reappeared on the opposite side of the sky.

2: That night, which was a clear sky, there was some light that was flying over the area of house, making no sounds, and as it was coming over me (it was very high, though) it actually faded slowly, like a ship cloaking on a Trek episode.

It's some pretty awesome stuff if one has both patience and an open mind one can see in the sky. If you wanna discuss any oddities you've seen in the skies, PM me, I'd love to hear 'em.

I figure open eyes help you see the sky better than an open mind. Just my opinion, of course.

You need both. Without an open mind, one can, and often does miss out on something amazing.

 

[Amaris]

You need both. Without an open mind, one can, and often does miss out on something amazing.

Nah. I like my open eyes. Needing an open mind for the night sky is like needing a can opener for a box of Kleenex.
I mean, what? "Look, there's Pollux." "I don't believe you." Unless of course you're referring to aliens, and then that's just a bunch of wide eyed bullshit.

 

[Darth Picardous]

I disagree, planets do not twinkle, only stars.

I believe you were seeing Sirius, the dog star and the brightest star in the sky. Sirius is well known to change colour rapidly at low elevations, especially for Northern Hemisphere observers ( for us Down Under it is always high and white).

 

[The Castellan]

You need both. Without an open mind, one can, and often does miss out on something amazing.

Nah. I like my open eyes. Needing an open mind for the night sky is like needing a can opener for a box of Kleenex.
I mean, what? "Look, there's Pollux." "I don't believe you." Unless of course you're referring to aliens, and then that's just a bunch of wide eyed bullshit.

Oh, I'm so, so sorry, I was not being sensible, now, was I? Oh course we all know there is no alien life, and objects that defy physics are easy to explain in nature. How foolish of me to think otherwise.

And would you mind explaining why it is a "bunch of wide eyed bullshit "? Your sort of fellows always say that, yet never explain as to why.

This outta be interesting.

 

[Amaris]

Oh, I'm so, so sorry, I was not being sensible, now, was I? Oh course we all know there is no alien life, and objects that defy physics are easy to explain in nature. How foolish of me to think otherwise.

Your statement is fundamentally flawed, in that:

A] I never said at any time alien life wasn't possible throughout the universe.

B] Objects that "defy physics" is in the same league as the term "supernatural". If it's "super" natural, then it isn't within nature. If it "defies" the laws of physics, then it doesn't exist, and while we're still learning about physics, seeing something in the night sky that isn't quickly explained doesn't equal "ZOMG Aliens!".

And would you mind explaining why it is a "bunch of wide eyed bullshit "? Your sort of fellows always say that, yet never explain as to why.

Who are "you fellows"?

Anyway, "wide eyed bullshit" = "willing to swallow nonsense because it's batshit insane to the point where it MUST be true, despite a dearth of evidence". That includes alien astronauts, aliens building the pyramids, just about anything aliens, hell, anything uttered by this guy:

Is "wide eyed bullshit", because there is nothing to support it but a shitload of supposition and poorly made $29.95 videos by "Experts".

This outta be interesting.

No. It's never interesting. It's just tedious.
If you ascribe to the popular UFO/Alien theories, then I don't expect anything I say to matter to your point of view.

 

[RoJoHen]

I will always believe that aliens built the pyramids...because it's just so much cooler that way.

 

[Amaris]

I will always believe that aliens built the pyramids...because it's just so much cooler that way.

I have jars of alien urine to sell you. Totally legit.

 

[The Castellan]

Oh, I'm so, so sorry, I was not being sensible, now, was I? Oh course we all know there is no alien life, and objects that defy physics are easy to explain in nature. How foolish of me to think otherwise.

Your statement is fundamentally flawed, in that I:

A] Never said at any time alien life wasn't possible throughout the universe.

B] Objects that "defy physics" is in the same league as the term "supernatural". If it's "super" natural, then it isn't within nature. If it "defies" the laws of physics, then it doesn't exist, and while we're still learning about physics, seeing something in the night sky that isn't quickly explained doesn't equal "ZOMG Aliens!".

And would you mind explaining why it is a "bunch of wide eyed bullshit "? Your sort of fellows always say that, yet never explain as to why.

Who are "you fellows"?

Anyway, "wide eyed bullshit" = "willing to swallow nonsense because it's batshit insane to the point where it MUST be true, despite a dearth of evidence". That includes alien astronauts, aliens building the pyramids, just about anything aliens, hell, anything uttered by this guy:

Is "wide eyed bullshit", because there is nothing to support it but a shitload of supposition and poorly made $29.95 videos by "Experts".

This outta be interesting.

No. It's never interesting. It's just tedious.
If you ascribe to the popular UFO/Alien theories, then I don't expect anything I say to matter to your point of view.

Hold it RIGHT there.

I am not one of those folks who 'swallow nonsense", pal. you see, I have seen many things that conventional method can not explain. Also, I seen many structures with so many mathematical redundancies, and geometry, and spending years doing my own research, leads me to say there's something going on around here. And it's odd, you mention these guys have no evidence....but the conventional, mainstream has no evidence, either...which makes the conventional 'wide eyed bullshit' as well.

Hell, I see people getting upset when someone say, for example, "possibly aliens or a high tech society, more advanced than the ancient Egyptians built it or taught the Egyptians to build them", including Zahee Hawas...he goes ballsitic when someone says that, but when he was asked how they were made, he said he does not know.

So....who do you suggest we listen to regarding alien life, hmmm?

It seems, at least in western cultures, mainly North American, that thinking even remotely outside of the conventional, or seeking some truth, always labels said folks as lunatics....like searching for the truth is a dirty thing to even consider.