Bright star faded completely away. i.e. I watched as a star disappeared.
On 10/4/2009, at approximately 9:28 PM CDT, in Amarillo, Texas, I saw what looked like an ordinary bright star very much out of place in the constellation Cassiopeia. I watched for 15 or 20 seconds before realizing that its brightness was very slowly diminishing. Continuing to watch, it disappeared completely in less than a minute. There was never any movement, sound, flickering, or change in color.
Details:
Amarillo Texas: Latitude 35 N, Longitude 102 W, Elevation 3300′
Viewing conditions: very good
Object’s estimated brightness when first sighted: -1.46
Azimuth: 38º
Altitude: 45º
Moon was waining:
Azimuth: 90º
Altitude: 23º
Any opinion or insight posted here would be greatly appreciated.
I believe that your description of the bright and then fading object describes what is known as an Iridium Flare. There’s quite a lot of info available on the web if you’ll Google those particular terms.
http://www.heavens-above.com can predict iridium flares based on where you’re at. i.e. You have to register so that you can indicate your geographical location and time zone.
Comment by mathman — October 13, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
I saw a similar thing a few months ago over Australia and I haven’t yet found a satisfactory explanation.
As far as I am aware, Iridium satellites are not geosynchronous and geosynchronous satellites are not bright.
The one I observed was about mag 0 (constant) and was stationary for at least 5 minutes before it blinked out in an instant.
I’m confident it wasn’t any of the usual suspects: weather balloons, Chinese lanterns, aircraft.
Any clues or links to positional data on bright geosynchronous satellites would be appreciated.
Comment by Roy — October 20, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Hey, I just saw the same thing but it was here and gone in a matter of a few seconds. I’ve seen plenty of iridium flares but this was stationary and in Cassiopia (sp) or jest to the left of it. It was very bright and white, not orange-ish. I figured it must be a geosat flare which I had never heard of but sounds reasonable. It was in NC about 7:35-7:45pm EST Tuesday Oct. 29 2013. I was talking on the phone outside and it caught my attention…so I hear that geosats are not bright though.?
Comment by Joe — October 29, 2013 @ 7:29 pm