Early morning comet (maybe)

[Craig2017]

Good morning everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone can help me. I have been waking up and driving to work just before sunrise for the last few weeks and I keep seeing a streak in the sky. First of all I thought it was a plane but then I kept seeing it and still now I can see it. It's in the east just right of where the sun rises. Can anyone tell me if it's a comet or no please, if it is I'm going to forget going to work early and get my scope out and have a gander at it. 

Thanks everyone.

[Demonperformer]

Don't know for sure, but I would think a naked-eye comet would have received quite a bit of publicity and I have heard none.

[LukeSkywatcher]

If its early morning and in the East, I'd say its a beam of sunlight visible before the sun rises above the horizon. 

[Craig2017]

If it is a beam of sunlight how would it look like a plane streak/ comet? Wouldn't it have to bounce off something?

[LukeSkywatcher]

6 minutes ago, Craig2017 said:

If it is a beam of sunlight how would it look like a plane streak/ comet? Wouldn't it have to bounce off something?

It would be "bouncing" off of either water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere. I'm not saying that's what it is. Sunlight when it hits water droplets causes rainbows. Sun halos are caused the same way. Sunlight hitting water or ice droplets. 

Have you any pics? 

[Craig2017]

I'll take one tomorrow because now I'm really interested. So would it be the same every day? I would say it's been there for a couple weeks now so would that happen?

[Demonperformer]

Maybe getting the scope out early at the weekend (if you aren't working then) and having a look will resolve it.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Well if conditions in the atmosphere have been stable for last couple of weeks and local weather , I can't see why it couldn't happen. 

[Craig2017]

Oh ok. I never knew it could do that. You learn something new every day. ?

[Jonk]

Mercury?

[Craig2017]

Would mercury show up as a streak across the sky?

 

[Stub Mandrel]

A contrail would, looking north-east from Portsmouth is directly across the approaches to Heathrow and Gatwick from Western Europe.

[Jonk]

3 hours ago, Craig2017 said:

Would mercury show up as a streak across the sky?

 

Not unless it had been hit by something! I didn't read what you were describing properly.

[Giada]

I use this site a lot to see whats in the skies this link will take you to the comet section. 

https://www.heavens-above.com/Comets.aspx?lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=UCT

Also it may have been a jets trailing exhaust maybe.