Orange expanding circular explosion

[Singlin]

A few nights ago near m31 I suddenly saw an orange circular flare/explosion that went from a small circle to expanding large circle in about 2 to 3 seconds.

Their was no travel from side to side or up and down but it was like an expanding puddle but orange.

I am new to Astronomy and can only think it might be something burning up in the earths atmosphere.

[jimmyjamjoejoe]

Certainly a strange one. I've heard of people capturing "head on" meteorites while imaging, maybe this was a head on fireball?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

You are right that this sounds atmospheric. I have seen two "point meteors" (head-on ones), and they did look different (just a little flash). Maybe it was some form of fireworks, or flare, or maybe satellite, or rocket debris reentering the atmosphere.

[Stu]

How about a satellite dumping gas or liquid of some sort. I have seen reports on SGL about this and I think it shows as a slowly expanding gas cloud. May be way off the mark but seemed worth suggesting.

Stu

[Stu]

Btw, did it remain for a while or disappear straight away?

Stu

[Matt Scunthorpe]

Ive never really seen anything like this, i caught a meteor last night, left a nice trail and lasted a few seconds. Could it of been a satelitte catching the sunlight? Ive seen a few times where you watch them and they get really bright then dim again, then really bright a few moments later, well i assume its a satelitte lol.

[m_j_lyons]

Sounds like you caught a satellite doing an orbital maintenance burn. If you check out the Heavens Above website you'll see how the ISS does periodic burns to higher orbits to counteract the drag of the atmosphere. I'd guess that smaller satellites do the same thing but less frequently.

What an interesting thing to see though.

[Singlin]

What I saw lasted only about two to three seconds. The diameter of the fully expanded circular light was large enough to attract my peripheral vision