Bright satellite? passed by Saturn at 22.37 BST

[Terry Scope]

Hi all,

was viewing Saturn tonight and about 22.37 a very bright object travelling at some speed whizzed past Saturn travelling W to E. It was as bright as Saturn. Any idea what it was?

[Paxo]

ISS ?

Steve

[Chris Hyde]

I also saw the bright satellite when viewing Saturn last night, near London, travelling from west to south-east. It looked as bright as ISS but my understanding is that ISS will not make another appearance until 31 May. I looked at it through binoculars. I looked away briefly and it had disappeared shortly after passing Saturn, as if going into the Earth's shadow.

[tbird]

Last night was the 2nd night in a row I have seen a bright object in this area, same time. Nothing on Stellarium. I don't know if it's the same object as you saw, although it was the same time, as I thought it was travelling slowly, a lot slower than ISS does, and it was travelling to the SSE.

[Orion_the_Hunter]

I saw this from the Soutb of France. I thought it was an irridium flare but now I know it wasn't. >>>whistles X Files theme<<<

[keef_uk]

I too observed this object - my first thought was ISS but looking Stellarium there was no mention of this or any other satellite

[idlelimey]

I saw this too! I assumed it was a meteor burning up.

[Domis]

Same thing here in New Jersey,USA,about 22:00 local time, aprox N to SE.A minute or two after that, was another in the same area moving in the oppisite direction from ESE to NNW seemed bigger and brighter than the first.Have'nt a clue as to what they were.

[Karlos]

I saw two objects, one flew past Saturn at 12.23am GMT and then looking again about 12.40am I saw a similar object, it appeared fairly dim, no flashing lights and was moving at an incredible speed, definitely a similar speed to a satellite. So, like some on here I checked Stellarium with the Satellite plug in and did not find any answers :S.

[trickytree]

Nearest satellite to Saturn at 22.37 on the 22nd May 2011, according to Star Walk app, was SL-8 R/B, which is a Russian rocket body according to this website:

SL-8 R/B Satellite details 1968-040B NORAD 3230

[SpaceBound]

I was looking for information as to an object I saw when I stumbled onto this sight and these posts. I am in central New Mexico, U.S.A. and have seen very bright "satellites" the past three nights. May 27th at approx. 2315 hrs mtn time, just above Alpha Sextantis, moving northward and up towards Regulus. It was only visible for maybe 5 to 8 seconds. May 28th, first at approx 2315, then again at 2320, same path. Then tonight a friend and I saw it 3 times, first at 2308 hrs, then 2317 hrs, then 2326 hrs, all along the same path but slightly more north each time. Couldn't have been ISS or a satellite, way to bright for either of them and not an airplane. Any ideas?