unknown star very bright

[janesy]

i live in missouri and last night i noticed a star in the east that was way brighter than any other star in fact it was so bright that i went in the house and got my binocs to look at it. i couldnt see anything through them other than blury light. tonight i went back out to look again and it isnt there anymore. other stars are visible around the area but none as bright as the last night. does anyone have a explanation for this.:unsure::unsure:

[Arian Maverick]

I'm trying to find confirmation for this hunch, but I think it may be Venus Evening Star.

This article is not the most definitive source, but I'll post a link anyway: The Bright Star in the West: Venus Is the Evening Star (http://stargazing.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_bright_star_in_the_west). Here's a short excerpt:

Venus is often considered the Morning Star or the Evening Star, depending on which time of day it is up and dominating the darkness. For example, from mid-February to mid-October 2010, Venus will be the most notable object in the evening sky in the west after sunset. It shines at a stunning -4 magnitude. The only natural objects in the night sky that are brighter than Venus are the Sun and the Moon (Satellites can briefly flare brighter than Venus).

EDIT: I just reread your post, and if it was a star in the east, it must not have been Venus.

Here's an excerpt from an article for the The Society for Popular Astronomy Young Stargazers: What's Up for August 2010 (http://www.popastro.com/youngstargazers/thismonth.html).

By Jove, it's Jupiter

That really bright star low down in the east is the planet Jupiter. You can tell it's a planet because it doesn't usually twinkle like a star. If you look at it with binoculars you'll probably see some of its moons on either side of it.

They share this map:

http://www.popastro.com/youngstargazers/Aug10.jpg

It seems Jupiter is the most likely candidate. I don't know why it would "disappear," though. :unsure:

Arian Maverick

[07.Re]

It seems Jupiter is the most likely candidate. I don't know why it would "disappear," though. :unsure:

Okay. Someone 'fess up... who stole Jupiter?!:mad:

:tongue:

[Mark]

Sounds to me like you saw a supernova.

[dr. farr]

Most likely it is the comet "C/2009 R1 (McNaught)"-you can read about it on the internet under that title...