Was the Bright Ball with Blue Light I Saw Through My Binoculars Saturn?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the observation of a bright object in the sky, which the original poster suspects may be Saturn. Participants explore the characteristics of the observed object, including its brightness and color, and consider various possibilities for its identity, including planets, stars, and other celestial phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that if the binoculars were properly focused and the object appeared as a disc, it is likely a planet.
  • Another participant notes that the observed object looked like a distorted disk and was brighter than surrounding stars, indicating it could be a planet.
  • Some participants propose that the object could be a nearby galaxy or a hot gas cloud, questioning the likelihood of such objects appearing bright in binoculars.
  • A participant shares their experience observing Saturn and mentions that it is identifiable through a finder scope, suggesting that the original poster likely saw Saturn if it appeared as a disc.
  • There is a suggestion to use a reliable astronomy program like Stellarium to confirm the object's identity in future observations.
  • One participant points out that Saturn is currently near the blue star Spica, raising the possibility of confusion between the two objects.
  • Another participant speculates that the blue light observed could be due to chromatic aberration in the binoculars rather than being related to Saturn's rings.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the identity of the observed object, with some leaning towards it being Saturn while others suggest alternative explanations. No consensus is reached regarding the exact nature of the blue light or the object's identity.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention factors such as light pollution and the limitations of mobile apps for locating celestial objects, which may affect observations.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, amateur stargazers, and individuals interested in identifying celestial objects through binoculars may find this discussion relevant.

chemistry1
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Hey, was just wondering, yesterday I was looking through my 10x50 binocular and used an app to locate Saturn. What I was seeing in the binocular was a burning ball (It was really bright compared to the stars.) and there was a sort of blue color around the bright ball. Would you think that was the real thing ? Or I mistook it with a star ? Just curious about knowing
 
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If your binoculars were properly focused, that is, all the stars looked like points, then if what you saw looked like a disc, then it's a pretty sure bet that you've found yourself a planet.
 
Bandersnatch said:
If your binoculars were properly focused, that is, all the stars looked like points, then if what you saw looked like a disc, then it's a pretty sure bet that you've found yourself a planet.
Well, it looked like a distorted disk, but still, I live in the city(pollution) and the stars all looked the same, but this bright-fire light was different than the others. Oh well, I'm happy to have seen my first planet ! Thanks
 
It could be a nearby galaxy or a hot gas cloud.
 
mathman said:
It could be a nearby galaxy or a hot gas cloud.
As a very bright object? In binoculars? I wouldn't bet my money on that.
 
It was more than likely Saturn. If it were a star, then it wouldn't really have bloated like a disc like it did for you. Just two nights ago I was observing Saturn with my telescope, but I use a 9x50 finder scope to help locate objects; I find it fairly obvious to know when I'm viewing Saturn through that, and can even see a few of its moons (although they look a bit like stars).

Try getting a program like Stellarium (I hate it, but it does its job and is free), and figure out where Saturn will be the next time you have a clear night. Then use those same binoculars and point it into the sky where Saturn should be, and compare that with what you saw yesterday.

EDIT:

I just read that you did use an app (presumably on your phone), but I wouldn't rely too heavily on those. It's best to get a reliable program like Stellarium to ensure it was Saturn that you saw.
 
Saturn is near the blue star Spica right now, so be sure you weren't looking at that.
 
And would you say that the blue light around it would be its ring? Just curious about that blue light... Thanks. And I'll download that programm antifreeze
 
chemistry1 said:
And would you say that the blue light around it would be its ring? Just curious about that blue light... Thanks. And I'll download that programm antifreeze

It's possible your binoculars simply have chromatic aberration and the blue light isn't focused, resulting in an outline of blue.
 

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