Two adult males witness a peculiar flare of light in the nighttime sky; not a flare from an Iridium satellite.
Peculiar "flare" of white light in the nighttime sky; not caused by an Iridium satellite.
Two adult males were standing and admiring the clear night sky, identifying the constellations in the northern and western sky.
As one was looking at the Big Dipper, he suddenly noticed a very bright light, the approximate apparent size of a bright star, suddenly flare up at approximately zero degrees (true) azimuth, and at approximately 85 degrees angle of elevation above the horizontal plane. The object was almost directly overhead of the observers' location.
The first observer quickly called the object to the attention of the other witness, who apparently already had observed it.
The first observer checked the time of the event with his cell telephone, and the time of the event was measured at 22:11 hrs. (Pacific Daylight Time). He then stated to the second observer that the event probably had been caused by the reflection of sunlight from an Iridium satellite.
However, the first observer, who has witnessed dozens of Iridium "flares," was surprised by the fact that the light appeared to be moving surprisingly slowly. During the duration of the event (3-5 seconds), the object did not move more than from one quarter to one half degree of arc (estimated), much less than the typical angular velocity of a satellite in low Earth orbit.
When the first observer returned home, he checked the website,
Peculiar "flare" of white light in the nighttime sky; not caused by an Iridium satellite.
Two adult males were standing and admiring the clear night sky, identifying the constellations in the northern and western sky.
As one was looking at the Big Dipper, he suddenly noticed a very bright light, the approximate apparent size of a bright star, suddenly flare up at approximately zero degrees (true) azimuth, and at approximately 85 degrees angle of elevation above the horizontal plane. The object was almost directly overhead of the observers' location.
The first observer quickly called the object to the attention of the other witness, who apparently already had observed it.
The first observer checked the time of the event with his cell telephone, and the time of the event was measured at 22:11 hrs. (Pacific Daylight Time). He then stated to the second observer that the event probably had been caused by the reflection of sunlight from an Iridium satellite.
However, the first observer, who has witnessed dozens of Iridium "flares," was surprised by the fact that the light appeared to be moving surprisingly slowly. During the duration of the event (3-5 seconds), the object did not move more than from one quarter to one half degree of arc (estimated), much less than the typical angular velocity of a satellite in low Earth orbit.
When the first observer returned home, he checked the website,
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Harrington
USA
3-5 seconds
3-5 seconds
47.46
-118.27
light
WA
Occurred : 4/27/2008 22:11 (Entered as : 04/27/2008 22:11) Reported: 4/27/2008 11:29:20 PM 23:29 Posted: 6/12/2008 Location: Harrington, WA Shape: Light Duration: 3-5 seconds Characteristics: There were lights on the object
Two adult males witness a peculiar flare of light in the nighttime sky; not a flare from an Iridium satellite.