What the hell is that bright star tonight?

I'm guessing Mars? Maybe Mercury..
I'm in my 40's and have spent many hours looking at the sky, but tonight there's an unusually bright star in the sky. It looked like a cluster of stars to start with, but when I moved location it just looked like a very bright star.
Ok, so HUGE apologies for the directions I'm about to give, but I have no idea how to describe what I'm seeing other than.
The moon is in front of me almost perfect South, and the star bright thingy is east at 2:30, and there's quite a gap between them. So look fairly far right if you're where I am lol. I'm on the central south uk.

Thanks, soz for asking you guys instead of Google, i did try Google 1st to no avail tho.
Peace oe123

a reply to: OpenEars123
It's pretty hard to reconcile with the Moon being "directly south." In the UK the Moon (just rising?) is now in the southeast.

a reply to: OpenEars123

I can't be certain what you are seeing, because I am in the U.S., in Florida...

...but I believe it may be Jupiter - because that has been very bright for the last couple months.

Its usually Jupiter

By the way, its not a star...

a reply to: OpenEars123

Maybe if you use Stellarium, you could identify what you saw.

Stellarium

Stellarium is a planetarium software that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars. It's easy to use, and free.

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: OpenEars123
It's pretty hard to reconcile with the Moon being "directly south." In the UK the Moon (just rising?) is now in the southeast.

Yes you're probably right, my directions suck
. It still looks out of place though. A bright amber/orange colour.

a reply to: OpenEars123

It is probably the mother ship of the impending invasion of earth.
Time to run to the hills screaming,the're here.

Thanks for the replies, yes I reckon Jupiter is a good guess.
I might install that sky app and check myself from there. I thought it would be quicker just to ask you guys lol. Thanks again 👍

a reply to: OpenEars123

You never know it could be a UFO! Is there any links to this?

originally posted by: mamabeth
a reply to: OpenEars123

You never know it could be a UFO! Is there any links to this?

No sorry, it's just me looking at the sky. I wanted to take a pic, but knew it wouldn't come out.

To me it stuck out like a sore thumb, that doesn't mean it's anything unusual I guess

While your directions are way off, I'm pretty sure you were looking at Mars. It's the brightest "star" visible before dawn. (Jupiter is a lot brighter, but sets below the horizon in those wee hours of the morning. Try spotting it high in the sky after sunset and throughout most of the night)

I was in Spain last week, and was surprised at how bright Mars looked. I even took a photo:



My advice - install Stellarium and it will show you what you're looking at. You can also get a local sky chart at heavens-above.com... just make sure you specify your location and time zone.

See the Moon join Mars and Saturn in the morning sky

Uh, looks like you got one of dem triangles!

They are the red dots blocking out the stars.

Awesome, wildspace.

a reply to: wildespace

Mars was YUUUUUGE last night!