<p>The object is (most likely) Mars! It's been rising in the south as of late. When it will rise of course depends on your location...for me it rises pretty close to sunset. Planets appear in an essentially constant position relative to the background stars over the course of the night, and as with the stars, the movement you see is due to the rotation of the Earth. Over the course of weeks, however, you can see the planets change position relative to the stars due to their motion in their orbit around the Sun. We don't see this wandering of position with stars - at least, not in an amount or on a timescale we can appreciate - because they're so far away.</p>

<p>Keep an eye out for other bright objects in the sky that appear to move faster and (unless conditions are poor) don't really twinkle, especially near sunset before the stars properly come out - Mars probably isn't the only planet you can see! Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are often visible as well. </p>

<p>Check out this site if you want to see what planets are visible from your location and when.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/</a></p>

<p>ETA: Corrected explanation of planetary motion vs. motion of stars based on James' comment. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T23:07:20.087Z
I agree that it is likely Mars.  But you are wrong to suggest that it's proper motion causes it to move across the sky. The motion of the planets relative to the stars is too slow to notice, unless you observe them over several weeks.  Planets do not appear to move faster than stars.
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T23:11:25.617Z
Ayaah, you're right, I read a few more things I and I definitely misused the concept of proper motion. I meant its motion in its orbit in the Solar System.
Erin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T22:55:55.877Z
2018-08-14T23:21:17.023Z
2018-08-14T23:21:17.023Z
Erin
<p>I have recently noticed an orange "star" (or what I presume to be a star), rise above the hill line behind my home. It rises later than every other star and rises within a few hours while the other stars are stationary! It moves off to the right when half way in the night sky this happens every night when clear for the past few months. I also believe I'm looking south. It's really bugging me. Could anyone identify this object from my description?</p>

<star>
Orange light that rises quickly and moves of to the righ
Peter
# Orange light that rises quickly and moves of to the righ

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-14)

I have recently noticed an orange "star" (or what I presume to be a star), rise above the hill line behind my home. It rises later than every other star and rises within a few hours while the other stars are stationary! It moves off to the right when half way in the night sky this happens every night when clear for the past few months. I also believe I'm looking south. It's really bugging me. Could anyone identify this object from my description?

**Tags:** star


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-08-14. Score: 3

The object is (most likely) Mars! It's been rising in the south as of late. When it will rise of course depends on your location...for me it rises pretty close to sunset. Planets appear in an essentially constant position relative to the background stars over the course of the night, and as with the stars, the movement you see is due to the rotation of the Earth. Over the course of weeks, however, you can see the planets change position relative to the stars due to their motion in their orbit around the Sun. We don't see this wandering of position with stars - at least, not in an amount or on a timescale we can appreciate - because they're so far away.

Keep an eye out for other bright objects in the sky that appear to move faster and (unless conditions are poor) don't really twinkle, especially near sunset before the stars properly come out - Mars probably isn't the only planet you can see! Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are often visible as well.

Check out this site if you want to see what planets are visible from your location and when.

<https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/>

ETA: Corrected explanation of planetary motion vs. motion of stars based on James' comment.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I agree that it is likely Mars.  But you are wrong to suggest that it's proper motion causes it to move across the sky. The motion of the planets relative to the stars is too slow to notice, unless you observe them over several weeks.  Planets do not appear to move faster than stars.  
> **username_1**: Ayaah, you're right, I read a few more things I and I definitely misused the concept of proper motion. I meant its motion in its orbit in the Solar System.  

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