Aircraft or UFO?

[Richjam]

Caught this last night whilst photographing the moon. I could see a single bright light crossing the sky no strobes. Fortuitously it just clipped the top of the moon in one of my frames. I've no idea what it is I assume it to be and aircraft but the shape does not look correct. It could be a satellite but it seems to large to me. Failing that I'm down to UFO or Santa out on a practise run Any help appreciated. Hi res image available here https://www.flickr.com/photos/rjbrown71/4558008986...

[FourWheelDrift]

[pidsy]

Klingons.


Or Romulans.

Difficult to tell.

[Richjam]

I should have realised posting this on Friday night before Xmas was asking for trouble!

[FourWheelDrift]

I thought I was quite close

[Richjam]

[quote=FourWheelDrift]I thought I was quite close

Disturbingly so!

[hammo19]

Satellite, space junk? Great picture though

[Kenty]

hubble!?

[Richjam]

hammo19 said:

Satellite, space junk? Great picture though

Thanks I think a low orbit satellite is the most likely as it was reflecting light from the sun before it crossed the moon. It just seems quite large in proportion to the moon when you compare ISS transit shots across the moon..

[Eric Mc]

Bird?
Bat?

[paua]

Eric Mc said:

Bird?
Bat?

Bird, Plane...Superman

[Richjam]

Eric Mc said:

Bird?
Bat?

I tracked it by eye for a few seconds before it crossed the moon. It was as bright as a star travelling east to west low in the sky. Definitely not a bird or a bat.

[Tony1963]

Runaway drone?

[Eric Mc]

Richjam said:

Eric Mc said:

Bird?
Bat?

I tracked it by eye for a few seconds before it crossed the moon. It was as bright as a star travelling east to west low in the sky. Definitely not a bird or a bat.

It's amazing how easily the eye can be deceived - especially in the dark.

[bluey1905]

ISS maybe?
Not sure if it is visible in the UK at the moment though.

[Richjam]

bluey1905 said:

ISS maybe?
Not sure if it is visible in the UK at the moment though.

it was traveling east to west the ISS travels west to east

[V8FGO]

After a bit of digging the best I can suggest is a Lacrosse 5 satellite/rocket.
Time is out a bit, exposure at 19:13 and also Location was a guess (Telford).
You can put your details in here.
https://www.heavens-above.com

[Richjam]

Eric Mc said:

It's amazing how easily the eye can be deceived - especially in the dark.

I get your cynicism and I'm not thinking it's little green men but I tracked this for a good 3-4 seconds by eye there is a trace of it in 3 of the 5 frames that I shot but this is the only one with a shape.

[Richjam]

V8FGO said:

After a bit of digging the best I can suggest is a Lacrosse 5 satellite/rocket.
Time is out a bit, exposure at 19:13 and also Location was a guess (Telford).
You can put your details in here.
https://www.heavens-above.com

Thanks that looks interesting. I will report back. Just off to brave the freezing rain whilst Christmas Shopping..

Edited by Richjam on Saturday 15th December 11:28

[bluey1905]

Richjam said:

bluey1905 said:

ISS maybe?
Not sure if it is visible in the UK at the moment though.

it was traveling east to west the ISS travels west to east

Oh yeah, that would probably rule it out then