bright star

[O2B3]

The other night I was about to set up my scope and looked up at some stars to the right of the plough so could set my scope and I three bright stars with bout five other not so bright stars as I looked at one of the stars for a split second it became brighter than the other stars it was as if someone had turned a touch on it became the brightest thing in the sky then it went out and was not there anymore! Can any explain what this was?

[ronin]

Date and time please, probably an Iridium flare from what you say/describe but with the two bits it should be possible to identify one - if it was.

Don't bother, for Fareham there were no Iridium flare since 23rd Sept that occurred at a sensible time, they all seem to be 5:00 to 6:00 in the morning. (Strange)

[Tinker1947]

Try looking in Stellarium for the Stars....

[O2B3]

Saturday at 9.30 pm

[O2B3]

Saturday at 9.30 pm

[ronin]

O2B3, you really are geting multiple posts. :grin:

What are you using?

Not a Iridium for that date, as said there seems to be only Iridium Flares for your location about 5:00 in the morning, not a thing at a convenient time in the evening.

There are others (flaring satellites) but they are on Calsky and I cannot get along with that site, simply never seem to get a location in without a major fight.

There were 2 bright satellites in the NE at the time you say and sort of 8 seconds apart, so that sound like 2 of them. Can only assume one had solar panels and you were treated to a small flare off of one.

[Unicronicus]

Capella would be the brightest star I could think of to the right of the plough