Was this a satellite?

[mcdjl]

I took this photo earlier on this evening (just before 9) and aside from the fact that my lens is filthy I'm hoping you can see the white spot to the left of the bottom of the contrails. I assume this was a satellite that i just caught sight of as the sun reflected off it as it glowed for a few seconds then became invisible again....I actually only noticed it after I'd taken the photo. Is my theory right or have a I seen a UFO....?



Edit: Here it is croped..turns out there are two of them...

Edited by mcdjl on Sunday 23 May 23:50

[Eric Mc]

It might have been what is called an Iridium Flare. There are a group of satellites known as Iridium which are orbiting at a fairly low altitude. They are not very brright but every so often, the sun catches their solar panels which makes them suddenly "flare up" for a few seconds before the angle changes and the reflection dies away.

[Simpo Two]

It's not a filthy lens, it's a filthy sensor

[Vipers]

Probably "Destiny". Their bloody lost again.

[jmorgan]

Starry Night has a string of iridium popping over at about that time and direction.

[Eric Mc]

Was one the planet Venus - which is very bright in the evenings at the moment?

[jmorgan]

That was to the left I think. Back in a mo.


Yeah, above left of the sun.

Capella and Mirfak are in the vicinity but thier magnitudes are .9 (??) and 1.7

Edited by jmorgan on Monday 24th May 16:56

Edited by jmorgan on Monday 24th May 17:00

[mcdjl]

The pic was taken roughly north easterly of where I was standing (Bradgate park in Leicestershire if you know it the tower is Old John).
I don't think either of them are likely to be stars/planets as they vanished after a few seconds- though i didn't notice the dimmer one until I cropped the picture.

[Eric Mc]

Is that glow in the sky the setting sun?

(Or was somewhere on fire)?

[jmorgan]

I sort of assumed it was the sun and lined up Starry Night on that. Not NE when it sets.


This might be handy, and its free. Don't know if it does satellites, probably does.

http://www.stellarium.org/


Edit. I was just mentioning stars around as they can be misleading, and planets. But I would have thought a flare would have been further over? Maybe it was a glint off another plane.

Edited by jmorgan on Monday 24th May 17:57

[mcdjl]

The glow is the sun...had looked too far north to me as well. I guess it could have been a plane at a different altitude/what have that wasn't leaving contrails....a satellite would be cooler however so I may stick with that option.


ETA: that stellarium is cool (and has also made me realise I was being dim and meant north west rather than north east)

Edited by mcdjl on Monday 24th May 18:55

[jmorgan]

Here is another freebie. Bit different and I have never really got to grips with it. You need the key commands printed for reference but cracking graphics. Tour Jupiter and its moons for example.

http://www.shatters.net/celestia/