Strange transit.

[tinsparrow]

Hello all.


Had the pleasure of strolling through cheltenham the other night (the 17th), it was about 22.45 local time. Throughout the day I had been staring into the sky hoping to spy some aircraft inbound or outbound from RAF Fairford. Anyway I looked up and by chance there was something in the sky. Due to it being dark I couldnt ascertain height or type. The wierd thing was that this speck was orange in colour, about 2 - 3 times the size of a star and was transiting very slowly from east to west. At first I thought it could be a hot air balloon, however I then reasoned it would be rather foolish to fly a hot air ballon at night! It couldn't have been a military aircraft as it was going much too slow. I dont think it was a sattelite reflecting sunlight as A it was orange and B it was visible from one end of the horizon to the other.

If anyone has any idea what it could have been please let me know.

TS

[treadigraph]

I was going to suggest that if it was going east to west it couldn't be a satellite because, unless they are geo-stationery. they orbit the west to east. Or are there any exceptions?

Saw a satellite a few weeks ago at about 11pm: appeared in the west looking very like an aircraft landing light at altitude, but its transit was much too fast, the light was still visible after it had passed overhead, no sign of strobes or nav lights. No noise either!

[tinsparrow]

thanx for that, however this one didnt have any lights but was just a glowing orange ball in the sky, I dont think it was a sattelite as I have seen them before. it looked almost a flamey orange colour.
Just as a general question also, doesn't geostationary mean it stays in the same position above the earths surface? if so it would not actually transit? I may be wrong about the direction btw, was actually out on a night out :=


TS

[Staller]

about 7 years back and was so intrigued by it I drove seven miles in search of it. I was convinced it was a UFO! (over South London)

Much to my amazement, it was................

a Hutchinson Telecom Orange Blimp advertisingOrange Telecom and it was lit from inside producing the Orange skin!

Could this explain your sighting?????

[tinsparrow]

Could have been a blimp I suppose, it was practically silent, but then it could have been high altitude.... a UFO, well technically it is I suppose, but someone knows...the truth is out there.

Ts

[Notso Fantastic]

Geostationary orbit is very high altitude- some 16,000 miles above the earth's surface, or thereabouts. You wouldn't see anything there. Above Fairford is an airway going out over South Wales and Ireland, so there is not much scope for high altitude balloons there. All I can think is it was a balloon either at low altitude or high above the airway, illuminated directly by the sun in the late evening sky.

[Jet Dragon]

I have observed satellites from here in Oz going N-S S-N W-E E-W and all points in between.

[Vee One...Rotate]

Geostationary orbit is around 22,500 miles high and you're right, any satellites there would appear motionless in the sky. Despite there distance and lack of motion, you can still see geostationary satellites in this orbit...on a clear night and with good eyes...problem is you wouldn't be able to differentiate them from a faint star. As a general rule, the satellites in the crowded geostationary orbit tend to be a bit beefier than there low-Earth orbit counterparts which means they generally tend to be more reflective.

Satellites mostly orbit W-E with varying inclinations as it's more efficent this way (the Earth's W-E spin gives a free boost) but satellites can and do orbit in every conceivable direction, depending on their task.

I've seen satellites on a clear night on a number of occasions - quite impressive against the starry background and with no sound at all.

V1R

[andyb79]

saw somthing similar many years back myself. Turned out to be a meteor at low level that wound up somewhere in the south atlantic. caused quite a stir round here though!

only exception was that it wasnt going slowly! but thats percefed(sp? drunk!) due to its altiutude.

[No_Speed_Restriction]

Nothing to worry about.


Had a chat with E.T. last night and he says all is well.:E