What’s that bright star?
Point your phone at it and you’ll have the answer in a second. Below is what’s bright in your sky tonight, worked out for where you are.
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Working out your sky…
It’s probably a planet
The brightest “stars” people ask about are usually Venus or Jupiter. Venus is the brightest thing in the night sky after the Moon and shows up in the west after sunset or the east before sunrise. Jupiter comes next and can be up for most of the night.
If it’s moving, it’s a satellite or a plane
A steady light gliding across the sky in a few minutes is probably the International Space Station or another satellite. Blinking lights mean a plane.
If it flashes colors, it’s a bright star low in the sky
Sirius, the brightest star, often flashes red, blue and green when it’s near the horizon, because its light passes through more turbulent air. Planets low in the sky can do this too, just less.
The brightest stars
Questions
Is the North Star the brightest star?
No. Polaris ranks only around 48th. It’s famous because it stays put in the north while the rest of the sky turns around it.
Why is one star much brighter than the rest?
Usually because it’s a planet, or one of a handful of very bright stars like Sirius.
Can my phone tell me what a star is?
Yes. Open the sky view, tap Start pointing and aim at it. Its name shows up in the circle.