What is that bright spot in the sky?

QUESTION: A friend of mine recently pointed out an extremely bright star-like object in the eastern sky that is most visible at 5 a.m. when it is at its highest point. It’s much too bright to be a star. We have some ideas as to what it is, but would like to know what you can find out.
- Lori Managlia

ANSWER: It’s the planet Venus, according to Alan Gorski of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society, which shares its monthly nighttime sky-viewing sessions with the public. The next one is from 8-11 p.m. May 5 in Palmer Park. For more information about the society, go to www.csastro.org.

Jack Carlson says Jupiter is in the southwest sky at dawn; Venus is the very, very bright object in the eastern sky at dawn. Mercury is also near Venus right now, but not very easy to see. There are free online skycharts, here is one: http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/ http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

From Levi R. Knox: “The bright object in the east around 5 a.m. is Venus. Check skyandtelescope.com.”

For planet information, James West recommended “a screen capture from a program called ‘Distant Suns’, which is available for download at www.distantsuns.com.

Another reader was concerned that the object is not a planet at all but a UFO with a bright light that shines into her window. She has contacted NORAD and Space Command to have it checked out.