|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but cometsdon't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
Last evening I was in Vallejo, CA (38n,122W) at 1830 pst and observed, to my astonishment, a naked-eye comet-like object moving across the sky about 20deg S of Orion. It appeared to be a barely visible "nucleus" trailing a distinct triangular "tail" appearing about 1/2 degree (full moon sized)in diameter. I observed it (and confirmed it by asking a passer by if he could see it, and he said it appeared to be a "comet") for about 2-3 minutes before it moved east and faded from view--much like a satellite flying into the earth's shadow.
It was much dimmer than the ISS and really did resemble a "comet". I've observed many real comets in my days, so I'm no stranger to their appearance, but this appeared to be some orbiting object, perhaps venting propellant. Any ideas what it might be? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but cometsdon't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
Falcon Heavy?
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but comets don't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
On Wed, 7 Feb 2018 02:35:48 -0800 (PST), Uncle Bob wrote:
[...] this appeared to be some orbiting object, perhaps venting propellant. Any ideas what it might be? Occam's razor says you nailed it. Perhaps it was a military high-altitude hypersonic surveillance aircraft. At their extremem speed & altitude, their trails differ somewhat from other aircraft. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but comets don't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
Mike_Duffy:
...Perhaps it was a military high-altitude hypersonic surveillance aircraft.... Can you name such an aircraft? -- I agree with almost everything that you have said and almost everything that you will say in your entire life. usenet *at* davidillig dawt cawm |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but comets don't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
On Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:58:17 -0500, Davoud wrote:
Mike_Duffy: ...Perhaps it was a military high-altitude hypersonic surveillance aircraft.... Can you name such an aircraft? If I told you, then I'd have to kill you. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but comets don't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
Mike_Duffy:
...Perhaps it was a military high-altitude hypersonic surveillance aircraft.... Davoud: Can you name such an aircraft? Mike_Duffy: If I told you, then I'd have to kill you. More likely the other way around https://www.flickr.com/photos/primeval/13024995215 My point is that the reason you can't name a "high-altitude hypersonic surveillance aircraft" is that there are no such aircraft in existence. (Outside the fevered minds of a few conspiracy theorists, that is.) -- I agree with almost everything that you have said and almost everything that you will say in your entire life. usenet *at* davidillig dawt cawm |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but comets don't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
On Thu, 08 Feb 2018 00:08:18 -0500, Davoud wrote:
My point is that the reason you can't name a "high-altitude hypersonic surveillance aircraft" is that there are no such aircraft in existence. (Outside the fevered minds of a few conspiracy theorists, that is.) Maybe you should update the wiki entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockhe...bird#Successor Para 1 Sentence4: [...] Thus, there are doubts that the US has abandoned the concept of spy planes to complement reconnaissance satellites. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but comets don't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
On Wed, 7 Feb 2018 02:35:48 -0800 (PST), Uncle Bob
wrote: Last evening I was in Vallejo, CA (38n,122W) at 1830 pst and observed, to my astonishment, a naked-eye comet-like object moving across the sky about 20deg S of Orion. It appeared to be a barely visible "nucleus" trailing a distinct triangular "tail" appearing about 1/2 degree (full moon sized)in diameter. I observed it (and confirmed it by asking a passer by if he could see it, and he said it appeared to be a "comet") for about 2-3 minutes before it moved east and faded from view--much like a satellite flying into the earth's shadow. It was much dimmer than the ISS and really did resemble a "comet". I've observed many real comets in my days, so I'm no stranger to their appearance, but this appeared to be some orbiting object, perhaps venting propellant. Any ideas what it might be? Timing was correct for the Falcon Heavy third-stage burn. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Comet-like object seen moving across the evening sky (but cometsdon't move a few degrees in a few minutes!)
I had checked heavens-above but saw no mention of it yesterday. It was most peculiar, and with the level of light pollution in the bay area, I was lucky to get a glimpse of it. I owe it all to my years of scanning the skies as an amateur astronomer. Now I think down the road I'll be exploring amateur radio and satellite monitoring.
Thanks Chris for your help. UB |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Heat in front of moving object | Richard Fangnail | Astronomy Misc | 17 | January 18th 10 03:57 PM |
Slow moving object spotted near M11 | Stephen Paul | Amateur Astronomy | 12 | September 3rd 05 02:36 AM |
Slow moving object on images? | Chris Taylor | UK Astronomy | 1 | August 14th 05 08:58 AM |
Comet Machholz easy evening object | Florian | Amateur Astronomy | 27 | December 13th 04 05:21 AM |
Moving Hubble to 51.6 degrees (near ISS) | Explorer8939 | Technology | 15 | January 26th 04 05:59 AM |