Did I see a nova..?

[ninehorn]

Just witnessed a very strange event.

Location - Crowthorne, Berks.

Time - approx. 2146 Thu 29th March 2012.

Was looking out of my upstairs window to the east when I saw a brilliant flash of light above the star Arcturus. It lasted just a few secs and then faded quickly to virtually nothing. I'd say it was at least as bright as Venus if not slightly more.

Could it have been a nova..? I guess most people will think its a meteor or similar but it was unlike any meteor I've ever seen.

Anyone else see it..?

rgds

ninehorn

[iwatkins]

Didn't see it but sounds like an Iridium flash. Do a Google and check if one was visible then.

Cheers

Ian

[malc-c]

Could of been a meteor, or sometime you can witness a flair from a satellite as it reflects the sun like this

[John]

Yep, I'd say an iridium flare. The "Heavens Above" website tells you what they are and when and where they are predicted to happen:

Help - Iridium Flares

A supernova is very faint and comes slowly to peak brightness over a number of days or sometimes weeks. Unless one happens very nearby of course

[ninehorn]

ahh..thx all, an iridium flash eh, you learn something every day..!

just checked the heavens-above site and there wasn't one planned for tonight but I guess it must have been something to do with a satellite etc.

[richbyers]

first time i saw an iridium i thought woooooah theyre here guys.....get your death rays out.... then i actually went and did some research and found not yet

they are really bright at times

[iwatkins]

Yep, had one a few nights ago while comet hunting flare in my eyepiece. To say I jumped would be an understatement Think I swore too.

Cheers

Ian

[lukebl]

Almost certainly one of the above suggestions. By the way, a nova brightens and fades over a period of days and weeks, not in the short timescale that you observed.

[Capricorn]

Iridium 45.

Flare at 21:43, mag -5, direction ENE from you.

[Tinker1947]

I would go with the Satellite theory, i have noticed a few bright white lights, then it fades as the sat slowly spins in its orbit.