<p>From 38&deg; north latitude, <a href="https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/sirius-the-brightest-star" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sirius</a> rises in the east-southeast just before dawn in late August.
Most of the naked-eye stars in its constellation <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_Major" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Canis Major</a> rise later.
Orion's belt points toward Sirius and appears above it when they are rising.
As the Skymaps.com <a href="http://skymaps.com/downloads.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">evening sky map</a> shows, Antares sets in the southwest several hours earlier.
Saturn is currently in Sagittarius, which is in the south on August evenings.</p>

<p>Refraction by the changing atmosphere makes stars twinkle and even appear to change color.
This effect is more pronounced when a star is bright or low in the sky.
Planets generally do not twinkle because they span wider angles than stars do.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-27T07:19:16.833Z
Note also that Saturn sets at about 2 am currently.
Dr Chuck
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-27T04:55:24.897Z
2019-08-27T05:23:49.357Z
2019-08-27T05:23:49.357Z
Mike G
<p>I have been believing this is Saturn, but perhaps Antares instead? It is so colorful it shines blue, red, green and white. </p>

<p>It is largest in sky in the East before dawn rises about 4 or 5 AM, seen from the San Joaquin valley, central California.</p>

<star><planet><amateur-observing><identify-this-object>
Brightest most colorful star in eastern morning sky not near any constellations; rises about 4 or 5 am?
Jane Myers
# Brightest most colorful star in eastern morning sky not near any constellations; rises about 4 or 5 am?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-27)

I have been believing this is Saturn, but perhaps Antares instead? It is so colorful it shines blue, red, green and white.

It is largest in sky in the East before dawn rises about 4 or 5 AM, seen from the San Joaquin valley, central California.

**Tags:** star, planet, amateur-observing, identify-this-object

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-27. Score: 4

From 38° north latitude, [Sirius](https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/sirius-the-brightest-star) rises in the east-southeast just before dawn in late August.
Most of the naked-eye stars in its constellation [Canis Major](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_Major) rise later.
Orion's belt points toward Sirius and appears above it when they are rising.
As the Skymaps.com [evening sky map](http://skymaps.com/downloads.html) shows, Antares sets in the southwest several hours earlier.
Saturn is currently in Sagittarius, which is in the south on August evenings.

Refraction by the changing atmosphere makes stars twinkle and even appear to change color.
This effect is more pronounced when a star is bright or low in the sky.
Planets generally do not twinkle because they span wider angles than stars do.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Note also that Saturn sets at about 2 am currently.  

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