General Astronomy FAQ
This page has questions and answers on astronomy in general. For FAQs on specific topics, please see the links to the right.
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What is the bright point of light I saw in the eastern/western sky early this morning/evening?
Very probably, an astonishingly bright point of light (much brighter than any star), seen in the eastern sky shortly before sunrise or in the western sky shortly after sunset is the planet Venus. The planets Mars and Jupiter are also often brighter than any star but are never as bright as Venus.
Information about what is currently visible in the sky can be found here.
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Can you provide any more on-line sources of information about what is visible in the sky this week?
Here is a good source of general information: SkyandTelescope.com - This Week's Sky at a Glance
For users who understand celestial coordinates, here is a source of detailed information about any time period: US Naval Observatory Data Services