Disc flares and disappears over Mt. Timpanogos, UT 4 Sep 12
A friend and I went camping Tues 4 Sep in what's known as the Alpine Loop in the Wasatch Mountains. About 8:30pm Mountain Time, as we started looking up to see the stars, I noticed what I originally thought was a planet - in the NW sky about 45-55 degrees from horizon (I'm no astronomer so I don't know how to describe the coordinates any better than that).
This "planet" flared suddenly and brightened and grew considerably - I would estimate at peak it appeared the size of 2-3 Venuses. Magnitude was what I'd expect if Venus grew that large.
The flare turned a pinkish color - to the point it looked like a "mini carnation" flower in the sky.
It faded to nothing within 5 seconds or less.
Sky condition was completely clear - esp. so as we were at an elevation of 7100 ft.
I wrote to a sky phenomenon web site - their best guess was an Iridium satellite flare; but none were visible in UT at that hour and date.
I'm wondering if anyone else has reported seeing this phenomenon - we know we both saw something - but it defies any description.
A friend and I went camping Tues 4 Sep in what's known as the Alpine Loop in the Wasatch Mountains. About 8:30pm Mountain Time, as we started looking up to see the stars, I noticed what I originally thought was a planet - in the NW sky about 45-55 degrees from horizon (I'm no astronomer so I don't know how to describe the coordinates any better than that).
This "planet" flared suddenly and brightened and grew considerably - I would estimate at peak it appeared the size of 2-3 Venuses. Magnitude was what I'd expect if Venus grew that large.
The flare turned a pinkish color - to the point it looked like a "mini carnation" flower in the sky.
It faded to nothing within 5 seconds or less.
Sky condition was completely clear - esp. so as we were at an elevation of 7100 ft.
I wrote to a sky phenomenon web site - their best guess was an Iridium satellite flare; but none were visible in UT at that hour and date.
I'm wondering if anyone else has reported seeing this phenomenon - we know we both saw something - but it defies any description.
No
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No
No
No
Yes
No
Off
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No
Alpine
USA
5 seconds
5 seconds
40.46
-111.78
flash
UT
Occurred : 9/4/2012 20:30 (Entered as : 09/04/12 20:30) Reported: 9/6/2012 3:19:44 PM 15:19 Posted: 9/24/2012 Location: Alpine (near), UT Shape: Flash Duration: 5 seconds Characteristics: The object changed color
Disc flares and disappears over Mt. Timpanogos, UT 4 Sep 12