2023-08-21 01:11:00
Many conspicuous, luminous objects can be observed in the evening sky. For example, the Perseids and the Blue Moon can be seen in August.
Most sky observations are relatively easy to explain.
Star, planet or satellite – how to recognize what’s in the sky
The most important information to figure out what you saw in the sky is this direction and the time the observation.
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If you don’t have a compass handy, you can roughly determine which direction you’re facing by using the sun. Remember the saying: “In the east the sun rises, in the south it rises high. In the west it will set, in the north it is never seen.”
You can explain some things more easily just by the cardinal direction. In the spring of 2023, for example, the planet Venus was very brightly visible in the west in the evening. So if you spot a very bright “star” in the west in the evening, it’s most likely the “evening star” Venus.
Identify star or planet
If you notice a “bright light” in the sky that doesn’t move for a long time, it’s most likely a star or a planet. To tell them apart, take a closer look: Stars twinkle while planets don’t.
The flickering of the stars is caused by the Earth’s turbulent atmosphere, which the light passes through before it reaches our eyes. Although light from the planets also travels through Earth’s atmosphere, the flare is not usually noticeable as planets appear significantly brighter.
Apps, such as the free Stellarium app, can also help distinguish between stars and planets. Once the app is installed, the smartphone can be pointed at the sky to find out exactly what the celestial object is. It also helps to observe the star or planet over a longer period of time. Planets move across the sky over time, moving from one constellation to the next. This is why they used to be called “wandering stars”.
Distinguish satellite from aircraft
A “bright light” moving very quickly across the night sky might be a satellite or an airplane. If the object in the sky blinks or has green or red lights, then it’s an airplane. Satellites do not blink, but move across the sky as more or less bright points of light and suddenly disappear.
With practice, it is even possible to tell different types of satellites apart. For example, SpaceX’s “Starlink” satellites usually appear in larger groups, and one satellite is followed by several others. The International Space Station ISS, which can also occasionally be seen in the night sky, remains alone and shines much brighter than the SpaceX satellites.
However, the “Starlink” satellites confuse some stargazers, who repeatedly perceive them as supposed UFOs. It’s no wonder either: following all, the satellites fly very close together and leave behind an almost spooky tracer. Observers also refer to the “Starlink” satellites as “chain of lights”.
Rocket launches can look unusual in the sky
Different phases of rocket launches can also produce unusual phenomena in the sky. A spiral shape can develop, for example, when a rocket stage ejects excess fuel.
It is occasionally possible to see burning parts of rockets or stage detachment. In contrast, shooting stars, meteors, and fireballs have a natural origin. A piece of rock from space enters the earth’s atmosphere and burns up.
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