Facing 170-180, saw brilliant flash at 65 deg azimuth. Color: White, no blue, red or orange. Traveled from N - S.
I think this was a sattellite, HOWEVER, I don't think it was one of the Iridium sats. They are geostationary. I saw a brilliant white flash out of the corner of my eye and looked up to see a white light with a corona at extreme altitude. It had a corona. The light appeared to make a slight "J" turn, but I am attributing that to atmospheric distortion. The object remained brilliant for 4 seconds, then faded rapidly. I was able to track it with the naked eye from approx 70 deg azimuth to 55 deg. It died out and I was no longer able to see it after 55 deg. There was no red or blue shift to the light. It did not twinkle or shimmer. It was harsh and brilliant white. It did not illuminate the surrounding area, nor did it hurt to look at it. It was at extremely high altitude, possibly in orbit/space. Hypothesis: This must have been a sat, however it went from N - S. Sats move in an equatorial orbit. Possibilities: Russian BrightStar: sat that tried to illuminate remote areas? Killer Sat Victim: Derelict sat being destroyed by new orbital weapon? Space Craft: making turn in high-altitude sunlight?
((NUFORC: Iridium satellites are in low earth orbit, and are not geosynchronous. Fifteen degrees of arc in 4 seconds tends to rule out any kind of satellite.))
I think this was a sattellite, HOWEVER, I don't think it was one of the Iridium sats. They are geostationary. I saw a brilliant white flash out of the corner of my eye and looked up to see a white light with a corona at extreme altitude. It had a corona. The light appeared to make a slight "J" turn, but I am attributing that to atmospheric distortion. The object remained brilliant for 4 seconds, then faded rapidly. I was able to track it with the naked eye from approx 70 deg azimuth to 55 deg. It died out and I was no longer able to see it after 55 deg. There was no red or blue shift to the light. It did not twinkle or shimmer. It was harsh and brilliant white. It did not illuminate the surrounding area, nor did it hurt to look at it. It was at extremely high altitude, possibly in orbit/space. Hypothesis: This must have been a sat, however it went from N - S. Sats move in an equatorial orbit. Possibilities: Russian BrightStar: sat that tried to illuminate remote areas? Killer Sat Victim: Derelict sat being destroyed by new orbital weapon? Space Craft: making turn in high-altitude sunlight?
((NUFORC: Iridium satellites are in low earth orbit, and are not geosynchronous. Fifteen degrees of arc in 4 seconds tends to rule out any kind of satellite.))
No
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Yes
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Off
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Waipahu Peninsula
USA
10-13 sec
10-13 sec
light
HI
Occurred : 3/13/1999 20:03 (Entered as : 03/13/99 20:03) Reported: 3/14/1999 03:12 Posted: 4/2/1999 Location: Waipahu Peninsula (Waipahu), HI Shape: Light Duration: 10-13 sec Characteristics: There was an aura or haze around the object
Facing 170-180, saw brilliant flash at 65 deg azimuth. Color: White, no blue, red or orange. Traveled from N - S.