Amazing satellites(!) spotted last night!

[ollyk]

Well, last night I went out glow worm hunting with the kids and o/h. No luck there (grass was still wet) but what we saw was equally, if not more impressive!

Basically looked up at the sky at approximately 23:45 to see what I thought initially to be a rather brighter than usual mars in a North Westerly direction. However, we very quickly realised it was moving so a planet it clearly was not!

The object got considerable brighter as it moved toward the east(ish) and for a good 20 degrees across the sky had a beautiful sunset red / orange glow to it, almost fire like in it's colours and intensity !
I have seen lots of satellites before, and on many occasions witnessed extreme short-lived flares that have actually made me look away but this was something else! Both in colour, size and average intensity it really was quite staggering!

To top it off, on our way back we saw a further two of these satellites at the same time, with one trailing no more than a few seconds behind the first!

All satellites faded perhaps after about 50+ degrees travel across the sky.

I have looked on Heavens above and unfortunately can not find anything within a similar time frame, but even if anyone here can't give me a clue as to what they were I thought it worth mentioning as this was a whole new experience for me, and I am sure has fired the imaginations of my daughter and her cousin with all sorts of different idea's (little green men were mentioned a few times ).

[James M]

Ah great sightings, I wonder which ones they were. I know that the ISS is passing over the country this week as well but I thinks it's around 2am this time.

[ollyk]

Not sure really, can't find anything on the previously mentioned site.
I was hoping there could be some interest or help here but unfortunately not

I will email above site and see if they can help!

[James M]

There's this little site, that you can enter you're location and see what satellites are flying over, but I think it only follows a select few so might not find what they were.

Simple Satellite Tracking from Spaceweather.com

[nytecam]

I'm surprised the sats weren't listed in heavens-above.com - did you check the time standard eg BST or GMT=UT [heavens-above usually corrects for BST etc] and the time and your location [nearesr town] are quite critical.

The colouring seems unusual but dust from the Russian volcano in Pacific ring has been giving unusual coloured skies and reddish moon when at low altitude throughout northern hemisphere including UK ..so maybe....

BTW - satellites always move west to east in a slightly arc across the sky [not dead straight] as the earth rotates below. Polar sats move north/south or visa versa.

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by nytecam

I'm surprised the sats weren't listed in heavens-above.com - did you check the time standard eg BST or GMT=UT [heavens-above usually corrects for BST etc] and the time and your location [nearesr town] are quite critical.

The colouring seems unusual but dust from the Russian volcano in Pacific ring has been giving unusual coloured skies and reddish moon when at low altitude throughout northern hemisphere including UK ..so maybe....

BTW - satellites always move west to east in a slightly arc across the sky [not dead straight] as the earth rotates below. Polar sats move north/south or visa versa.

Hi Nytecam, Thanks for the suggestions... you know I have realised that my location was about 7 miles out... didn't think this could be significant. Also I assumed that when you entered your location in Heavens above you also enter your timezone, so will this not be accounted for with the predictions?

Incidentally, your last paragraph indicates you aren't entirely convinced that these were indeed satellites? While I can't definitely vouch for an 'arc' I feel that, as I am always looking up and watching satellites / planes alike I am pretty confident this is indeed what they were!

Maybe My bearings were mixed up regarding the east / west directions! Actually, they definately were - they were coming from the same part of the sky as the twilight from the sun How stupid!

BTW I wondered if the second sighting could have been something similar to the NOSS trio, but being lucky enough to see these on one occasion in the past they were much closer together, and actually pretty faint (not to mention there were three too) so I ruled this out as a possibility.

Olly.

[ollyk]

So knowone has any idea what these satellites could have been then?

[Doggle Avaddit]

When the Space Shuttle launches and separates from its fuel tank, the tank apparently takes on an orange hue.

Here's a link to a recent sighting in Ireland

YouTube - Space Shuttle over Ireland May 31st 08



The dates are wrong for you to have seen this, but the descriptions of these events are quite similar.



Curious.

[Doggle Avaddit]

This shuttle separation event was due to be viewed last night again, but only in Ireland. The launch is currently posponed, due to lightening strikes, but should go ahead later this evening.

I don't know whether this might be visible in the UK at all tonight - I shall attempt to find out though.

[Doggle Avaddit]

Apologies for posting to my own posting again, but there is a live countdown of the Shuttle launch here:

Space Shuttle Countdown Portal - Welcome



I would guess that it will be taking the same trajectory, despite the delay, and that the fuel tank separation will only be seen over Ireland, but you never know - it might be worth a peek outside just after launch .........

[Doggle Avaddit]

3 hour countdown started, launch should be around 11.18pm GMT (sunday night).