Tonight, when looking up in the sky westward, I saw a cresent moon and a bright star just to the south and east of it. Being curious, I had to search online to ascertain what could it have been. A planet I felt initially. Was I correct?

According to Space.com's sky calendar for Jan. 29-30, 2009.

Moon/Venus, 6:12 a.m.

The thin Crescent Moon passes north of Venus at about 6 a.m. on Friday, but neither object will visible at that time for North American or European observers. Instead, look to the western heavens just as it gets dark on Thursday and Friday evenings.