Moon smiley face over Surfers Paradise

[RODALCO]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/316 ... 2cd5_o.jpg

Any one seen this.

While on holiday in the spa at Paradise Resort, Goldcoast, Australia I noticed this interesting fenomena.

The moon as a small crescent and 2 planets (i think) created this smiley face.
It lasted for about 1/2 hour so I had enough time to take a photo of it.

Just wondering if anyone else seen the event and perhaps know the names of the planets.

The stars at the time were hardly visible.
Time was about 19.45 hrs

Cheers, Raymond

[Lacertae]

Good one !!!

[gllitz]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/316 ... 2cd5_o.jpg

Any one seen this.

While on holiday in the spa at Paradise Resort, Goldcoast, Australia I noticed this interesting fenomena.

The moon as a small crescent and 2 planets (i think) created this smiley face.
It lasted for about 1/2 hour so I had enough time to take a photo of it.

Just wondering if anyone else seen the event and perhaps know the names of the planets.

The stars at the time were hardly visible.
Time was about 19.45 hrs

Cheers, Raymond

If you know the date (and the time, which you do) you can go here: http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

Plug in the LAT LONG (28S 153.25E ??) and then adjust the date-time to about the time of the photo...should be able to work it out from there...
This: http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/help/icons.html will help you with what the icons mean. Hope that helps!

[Lacertae]

According to what you say, it should have been on the 31st and the planet on the left is Venus. But for the one on the right, Starry Night Pro doesn't show anything special ...

Picture1.jpg

[jamie]

According to what you say, it should have been on the 31st and the planet on the left is Venus. But for the one on the right, Starry Night Pro doesn't show anything special ...

Picture1.jpg

hmmm spooky

[gllitz]

Your picture and the one I have used shows both Venus and Neptune...two planets which would be bright enough to see...great pic, by the way!

[Lacertae]

I've got the solution : the date of the shot is the 1st of December at 7:45pm. I remember observing this beautiful event from home.

Picture1.jpg

[RODALCO]

Thanks for the replies.

The date was the 1st of December 2008.

It was certainly worth watching and taking a photo off anyway

Cheers, Raymond

[Vertigo]

neptune would be bright enough to see with the naked eye??

[Lacertae]

No. You can try Uranus on a really good night and a really good dark place after eating a lot of carrots every day for 2 weeks. But Neptune is beyond our eye capability (mag = 7,95 lately) ...
In the same conditions you can try the planetoid Vesta sometimes when it comes close to Earth.

[gllitz]

Jupiter and Venus make much more sense...especially when the right date is put in place....

EDIT: I remember after posting the above I thought later "Is Neptune actually visible to the naked eye?" Never followed up on it and should have, so my apologies.

See attached, now that right date, etc have been given (comes from site I mentioned above)