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photo

I decided to try the Astrophotography mode on my phone. Looking at the image I saw an object I didn't notice at the time.

What is the blue circle right of the Moon and just on the top right of the hole between the clouds?

I tried to look at a planetarium (time and location included, no idea about the azimuth). I couldn't find a planet looking at this direction.

According to this (if I understand it correctly) the only planet visible at that time and location should have been Mars.

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    $\begingroup$ Does this answer your question? Help identify a bright and round object photographed through a telescope $\endgroup$
    – B--rian
    May 26, 2021 at 15:05
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    $\begingroup$ @B--rian or if you're suggesting it's just a spec of dust on the lens - maybe it's possible. But I also took a couple of photos before and after that and they don't have the same "spot". $\endgroup$
    – ndnenkov
    May 26, 2021 at 15:13
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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to astronomy SE! I am rather certain that is an effect of the lens - in any case a zoom-in of your object would be helpful, see also astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/43684/… $\endgroup$
    – B--rian
    May 26, 2021 at 15:15
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    $\begingroup$ The official way for a question like this is close-as-duplicate your question rather than answering it - please do not feel dishearted by that. $\endgroup$
    – B--rian
    May 26, 2021 at 15:18
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks for re-opening your question! $\endgroup$
    – Giovanni
    May 27, 2021 at 10:16

1 Answer 1

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Is this object Mars?

I'm pretty sure this is simple lens flare.

While lens surfaces in cameras have antireflection coatings that strongly reduce reflections, they are not perfect. A very bright small spot like the Sun or Moon or a bright streetlight will result in near-mirror images opposite the center of the image.

Analysis from this answer:

lens flare exactly opposite the center of the image

Here I used this effect on purpose to reduce the brightness of the partially eclipsed Sun before it became annular. Solar eclipse of December 14, 2020):

Partially eclipsed Sun December 14, 2020

complete image:

Partially eclipsed Sun December 14, 2020 click for larger

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