What is this in the sky? I like to photograph the moon and often go out early in the morning. The first shot is an example. So Tuesday morning Nov 24 I went out and nothing in the sky...

hj Loc: Florida

I like to photograph the moon and often go out early in the morning. The first shot is an example. So Tuesday morning Nov 24 I went out and nothing in the sky except one bright star I thought. Maybe something else as I have never been able to get a shot of a star with my Canon SX50. This was in the southeast and I took four shots about 5-7 seconds apart and all identical. Went back out 20 minutes later and it was still there but an hour later gone. I'm mystified what it might be.

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scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

hj wrote:

I like to photograph the moon and often go out early in the morning. The first shot is an example. So Tuesday morning Nov 24 I went out and nothing in the sky except one bright star I thought. Maybe something else as I have never been able to get a shot of a star with my Canon SX50. This was in the southeast and I took four shots about 5-7 seconds apart and all identical. Went back out 20 minutes later and it was still there but an hour later gone. I'm mystified what it might be.

You didn’t say what time you were out, but it was likely Venus.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

hj wrote:

I like to photograph the moon and often go out early in the morning. The first shot is an example. So Tuesday morning Nov 24 I went out and nothing in the sky except one bright star I thought. Maybe something else as I have never been able to get a shot of a star with my Canon SX50. This was in the southeast and I took four shots about 5-7 seconds apart and all identical. Went back out 20 minutes later and it was still there but an hour later gone. I'm mystified what it might be.

Other than the moon shots, waaddia got??>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RJM

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Venus is up before dawn at the moment, so not that. It looks like a bright star or planet, but hugely out of focus. Doesn't explain why it would disappear, though...

Oops... Missed that you were out in the morning... Sorry!

Abo

I'd put a couple of bucks on a balloon... possibly a weather balloon.

I took the liberty of cropping and adjusting the light levels to reveal:

hj Loc: Florida

Abo wrote:

I'd put a couple of bucks on a balloon... possibly a weather balloon.

I took the liberty of cropping and adjusting the light levels to reveal:

Sounds like a worthy possibility.

hj Loc: Florida

scubadoc wrote:

You didn’t say what time you were out, but it was likely Venus.

8:06 a.m.

spaceylb Loc: Long Beach, N.Y.

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SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

hj wrote:

I like to photograph the moon and often go out early in the morning. The first shot is an example. So Tuesday morning Nov 24 I went out and nothing in the sky except one bright star I thought. Maybe something else as I have never been able to get a shot of a star with my Canon SX50. This was in the southeast and I took four shots about 5-7 seconds apart and all identical. Went back out 20 minutes later and it was still there but an hour later gone. I'm mystified what it might be.

...sounds like a job for Space Force...?

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Could be Venus. Venus is never more than 40° from the Sun, and definitely shows phases. From the phase seen in that photo, I'd guess it was on our side of the Sun, somewhat off the direct line.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

Most of the astronomy apps can be set for time of day as well as longitude/latitude coordinates. Given the OP was in Florida around 8AM, the only bright object in the sky at that time was Venus. Other planets in the SE sky, although just before sunrise were Jupiter and Saturn.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

If it was really bright, it was most likely Venus. It's the brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon.
Venus is a morning star right now so that fits.. Stars, no matter how bright, are too far away to be resolved with a disk, another case for Venus. (balloon is possible but would be incredible coincidence given Venus is a probable). Mars at that time is high in the southern sky and notably reddish and Saturn and Jupiter have already set in the west. My vote is Venus.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

It should be a weather balloon. Venus has phases like the moon (and that is real interesting to see, btw), but it won't ever give shading like this. You need a telescope to resolve Venus to a disc.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

It should be a weather balloon. Venus has phases like the moon (and that is real interesting to see, btw), but it won't ever give shading like this. You need a telescope to resolve Venus to a disc.

Don't know whether there's enough information to know which one, Venus or balloon. Most important, don't know focal length of lens but it was long enough to produce pretty detailed image of moon. Lots of images of Mars and Jupiter on UHH posts that are resolved to disc with camera lenses. Jupiter is obviously much larger than Venus, but also much further away. Mars is smaller than Venus and further away too. Phases could make it a balloon but don't know if balloon would stick around for 20 minutes in same spot either. Guess that makes for interesting discussions and bets that can't be won.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Venus definitely shows phases--Mercury does, too. Venus is also completely covered with clouds, which means no surface features can be seen. I believe that image is of Venus.