|
21st October 2000 - Larne, N. Ireland
Duration:
approx. 2-3 minutes Type: Triangular formation of three non-scintillating
star-like objects of equal brightness(3-4th.mag). Direction:
Headed due east through Pegasus. Size: Two fingers at arms length.
Speed: About the speed of a satellite as usually observed. Motion:
Regular, in the direction of the triangle's apex. Shape: Isoseles
triangle. Magnitude: Three objects of approx. 4th. magnitude.
Weather: exceptionally clear night (structure of milky-way plainly
visible) Witnesses: 2;
Description:
While observing the milky-way with my step-son, we noticed a triangular
formation which appeared to be three satellites moving due east through
Pegasus in unison. We watched the formation for about 2 minutes after
which the object forming the apex faded to nothing in about 2 seconds, the
lower left-hand object also faded out in about 2 seconds but 5 seconds
later, the third object then faded out after a further 5 seconds.
Expecting this to be a group of satellites which would return in around 90
minutes (puzzled though we were by their remarkable proximity to one
another and the display of apparently synchronised behaviour) we waited
until 22:15 and continued observing until 22:45 with no further
sightings. We watched the area of the sky about 20 degrees to the
west of where the objects were first sighted which would have
corresponded to the point-of-return had this been a group of
satellites. Comments: All three objects faded within 10-15
seconds of each other. The probability of this is low in the case of
independently moving objects. Over the course of 2-3 minutes the triangle
formed by the objects did not change shape indicating synchronised
movement of some sort. The high degree of apparent synchronisation in
movement would indicate that the objects were close together. This
is not what one would expect of satellites. The formation did not
pass over any stars during our sighting so we could not say that
whether it was opaque or not. We had the impression that we were looking
at three single objects moving in formation. I would be most
appreciative if you could let me know where I can find tables of satellite
schedules or inform me if you know of any explanation for this
sighting.
This
would appear to be a sighting of a cluster of NOSS satellites passing over.
However, the witness is confident of the magnitude of around +4. Satellite
data for NOSS (available from GSOC) suggests that none of the NOSS satellites
get brighter than +5. Also, the published data does not match the
flight path seen by the witnesses. However it should be remembered that
NOSS are military surveillance satellites, and as such, published data cannot be
considered totally reliable.
|