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Which satelite did I see?



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 14th 03, 09:07 PM
jj
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Posts: n/a
Default Which satelite did I see?

I live in St Albans in the UK at the following co-ordinates

Lat (WGS84) N51:45:43 ( 51.761921 )
Long (WGS84) W0:18:07 ( -0.302046 )


We are have very clear skies at the moment and Last night and tonight at
approx 8.55pm summer time (7.55pm GMT) I saw something like a jet airliner
but smaller, faster, higher and with no vapour trail pass from approx south
to north slightly to the east of me.

Can anyone tell me what it is - I guess it is a satellite but don't know how
to find out.

Thanks

Ian


  #2  
Old July 15th 03, 07:36 PM
jj
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Which satelite did I see?

Thanks for your help on this. I'm really a layman and have no knowledge of
satellites - but will check out Heaven's above.

As you say it could have been a corporate jet - but the timing was
identical.

Your point about sunset is correct - but the sun passes behind a building
about an hour before putting me in the shade. I assumed this might help me
see things - though as I say I'm a novice.

Thanks anyway.


"OnePageQuest" wrote in message
...
I can't provide any help, but hopefully someone else in the group will be

able
to. I put your data into heavens-above.com, but the earliest pass they

show for
either night is about an hour later than what you reported.

Also, unless I am reading something wrong, your local sunset is at about

9:13
p.m. or approximately 18 minutes after your sighting, meaning whatever you

saw
was very bright. The brightest satellites predicted on heavens-above.com

for
those two evenings, within about an hour of your noted observation time,

are
around magnitude +4.4, which I believe would be impossible to see with
pre-sunset light in the sky. All of this leads me to believe that you may

have
seen a high-flying fighter jet or corporate jet, not leaving a

condensation
trail, and perhaps reflecting enough of the light of sunset to "cover" the
flashing lights. That said, I still wouldn't be surprised if you actually

did
see a satellite, for strange things do happen! However, it will take

members of
the group more learned than myself to help you determine what it was you

saw,
and I'll be watching the posts as eagerly as you!

Again, good luck in identifying the bird (or birds) you saw -- I know it

can be
frustrating when you've had an interesting sighting and just can't quite

find
any predicted pass that squares with the data.

on: 7/14/03 4:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time wrote:

I live in St Albans in the UK at the following co-ordinates

Lat (WGS84) N51:45:43 ( 51.761921 )
Long (WGS84) W0:18:07 ( -0.302046 )


We are have very clear skies at the moment and Last night and tonight at
approx 8.55pm summer time (7.55pm GMT) I saw something like a jet

airliner
but smaller, faster, higher and with no vapour trail pass from approx

south
to north slightly to the east of me.

Can anyone tell me what it is - I guess it is a satellite but don't know

how
to find out.

Thanks

Ian



  #3  
Old July 15th 03, 07:36 PM
jj
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Which satelite did I see?

Thanks for your help on this. I'm really a layman and have no knowledge of
satellites - but will check out Heaven's above.

As you say it could have been a corporate jet - but the timing was
identical.

Your point about sunset is correct - but the sun passes behind a building
about an hour before putting me in the shade. I assumed this might help me
see things - though as I say I'm a novice.

Thanks anyway.


"OnePageQuest" wrote in message
...
I can't provide any help, but hopefully someone else in the group will be

able
to. I put your data into heavens-above.com, but the earliest pass they

show for
either night is about an hour later than what you reported.

Also, unless I am reading something wrong, your local sunset is at about

9:13
p.m. or approximately 18 minutes after your sighting, meaning whatever you

saw
was very bright. The brightest satellites predicted on heavens-above.com

for
those two evenings, within about an hour of your noted observation time,

are
around magnitude +4.4, which I believe would be impossible to see with
pre-sunset light in the sky. All of this leads me to believe that you may

have
seen a high-flying fighter jet or corporate jet, not leaving a

condensation
trail, and perhaps reflecting enough of the light of sunset to "cover" the
flashing lights. That said, I still wouldn't be surprised if you actually

did
see a satellite, for strange things do happen! However, it will take

members of
the group more learned than myself to help you determine what it was you

saw,
and I'll be watching the posts as eagerly as you!

Again, good luck in identifying the bird (or birds) you saw -- I know it

can be
frustrating when you've had an interesting sighting and just can't quite

find
any predicted pass that squares with the data.

on: 7/14/03 4:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time wrote:

I live in St Albans in the UK at the following co-ordinates

Lat (WGS84) N51:45:43 ( 51.761921 )
Long (WGS84) W0:18:07 ( -0.302046 )


We are have very clear skies at the moment and Last night and tonight at
approx 8.55pm summer time (7.55pm GMT) I saw something like a jet

airliner
but smaller, faster, higher and with no vapour trail pass from approx

south
to north slightly to the east of me.

Can anyone tell me what it is - I guess it is a satellite but don't know

how
to find out.

Thanks

Ian



 




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