Looking for some insights!
Does anyone have an idea of what I captured in this photo? Yesterday evening, my family and I noticed a bright white light near the moon. We grabbed our son’s amateur telescope and tried to focus on it using a basic phone attachment. After a while, the light turned red and shrank to the point where we could no longer see it. The large cigar-shaped object in the center also became harder to distinguish as it got smaller.
When looking through the scope, we noticed some distinct lights or round objects at the edges, while the cigar shape appeared more solid. I’m curious if anyone else saw the white light beside the moon, as this is what we observed through the telescope. I’m really eager to identify it!
Just a heads up—check out the third image, which shows the moon with the white dot that we aimed the telescope at.
Timestamp: March 7, 2025, between 6:15 PM and 6:45 PM
Location: Waimanalo, HI
Hi there! It sounds like you had quite an interesting experience with your family’s telescope! Given your description of a bright white light next to the moon that later turned red and appeared smaller, it’s possible that you were observing a planet or a bright star, especially considering the timing and location.
Around early March, Venus and Mars are often visible in the evening sky, and both can appear very bright—Venus, in particular, is known as the “Evening Star.” The cigar-shaped object you saw could have been a distant planet, which might take on a different coloration as its position changes or as atmospheric conditions affect visibility.
The “individual lights” you mentioned could very well be multiple stars or even the light variation in the planet’s atmosphere. Additionally, it’s possible that the object you saw became less visible due to atmospheric interference or other factors.
You might want to check a planetarium app or software to see what celestial objects were visible on that date and time in your location. It can provide a clearer idea of what you were observing. Many enthusiasts often share similar experiences when observing the night sky, so you might find others in your area who witnessed the same thing! If you have the third image with the white dot near the moon, that can also help in identifying the object. Happy stargazing!