Does anyone know what star this is ?

[Candymancan]

I was watching some youtube video's and a guy was using Googlesky and if you go to the Leo Constellation and turn on Infared you will see a Huge bright blotch in the sky much bigger then anything else. When you zoom into that spot you can see a really dark redish star or something. Doesnt Infared tell you how Hot/close things are ?

Here is a picture of the blotch im talking about. Its bigger then anything in the entire map.




Here is a picture zoomed up close

[Carlos_dfc]

I've had a look at Google Sky, and found that IR blotch in Leo.

The red star you point out is a magnitude 7.6 Red Giant, listed in the Hipparcos catalog as HIP48060, and in the Tycho catalog as TYC 834-142-1

However, the blotch seems to be centred a little below that, on the 10.7 mag star TYC 834-1115-1

I don't think it is assosciated with either star though - and is almost certainly just an anomaly - probably something that got in the telescope's field of view when it took the photo.
There's nothing to cause such a hotspot on the visual image, which means it is a transient object that just happened to get in the way when the IR photo was 'snapped'.
Could have been a satellite, a plane, or even a bird or insect close to the scope.

Google sky is full of such anomlies, as well as in-camera optical effects.

Unfortunately, some people spend an awful lot of time trawling through things like Google-sky, and Microsoft's Worldwide telescope, looking for such anomalies - then make videos for Youtube to try and convince 'laymen' that it they are caused by such things as Aliens, Niburu, etc....

[galixyhunter]

carlos wouldn't you recomend stellarium to Candymancan ? I found Google Earth isnt the best to use?

[PhobetorXVII]

dont use google earth for locating stars its difficult to navigate there and as carlos said there are alot of gliches on the photos there

and btw why did candy got banned?

[Carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by galixyhunter

carlos wouldn't you recomend stellarium...........I found Google Earth isnt the best to use?

Originally Posted by PhobetorXVII

dont use google earth for locating stars its difficult to navigate there and as carlos said there are alot of gliches on the photos there

Yes - Stellarium is far better than the likes of Google-Sky, and WorldWide Telescope.
G-S and WWT, are OK for the casual user who isn't all that interested in astronomy - but a proper 'planetarium' program such as Stellarium has far more to offer to an amatuer observer or imager.
'Cartes du Ciel' is also an excellent free download - It has a more basic 'look' than Stellarium (CdC looks like a 'chart', whereas Stellarium attempts to realistically recreate an image of the sky) - but CdC has far more objects and detail in it - Plus, extra catalogs of stars, DSOs, comets, etc. can be added.
CdC is also less system-hungry - so is ideal to use outside on a cheap laptop.

and btw why did candy got banned?

Sadly, Candymancan broke the forum's Terms & Conditions, more than once, even after an attempt at a friendly warning.
Sorry - but I can't say more than that, especially as 'Candy' now has no way to reply to specific details - It wouldn't be fair.