Non-Iridium Flares

[AndyWB]

So I was out tonight in West Berks, and at 1821 I happened to be looking west with my Mk I eyeballs when something flared. For a moment it became brighter than, well, anything star-like I've seen - brighter than Venus or Jupiter - before dimming just as quickly, though I could see a little spot of light that looked like a satellite drifting off. It was near Pi Herculis, just above the keystone.

"Ooo" I thought, "I might just have seen my first Iridium flare".

Heavens-Above does not show any Iridium flares at that time. None of the brighter satellites on it are in the right place at around that time either - and they didn't really feel bright enough.

Are there other things up there that flare that brightly? I mean, it pretty much seared itself into my retina…  and I'm really curious as to what it was! 

[ronin]

There are others, calsky will give a list of them but I can never get calsky to take my location. It may but it still seems to indicate a location defined by my IP address. So at the end I am never 100% sure if the location that it is using is my Lat/Long or my IP and as there is 25-30 miles difference I just am never sure. I have changed the location to see my Lat/Long in one part but a "pin" over the IP address location.

http://www.calsky.com/

It is presently saying I am in St Albans, the catch is no I am not, even in a staright line St Albans is some distance away. St Albans (Redbourn) is where a main node for the IP supplier is.

[Paul M]

Might be related to the objects I saw: http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/229704-unexplained-sighting/#entry2479043

Those objects had no visible motion over the time they were visible. Even through the bins.

I've seen a good few random and very bright satellite flares. Some surprisingly bright but always give their nature away with motion. I rarely get to identify them (Satellite Safari) but I usually try.

I was thinking the objects I saw were perhaps satellites in Molinya orbits. But I don't think the geometry works for a stationary apparition low in the north west and to flare so brightly given their range at apogee.

[ronin]

IF Calsky has taken the coordinates of Reading then at 18:34 Cosmo Skymed1 flared yesterday if you were looking South West.

Looks like Calsky says I am at St Albans but appears to be using the Lat/Long specified for Reading.

Seems to be presently saying coordinates are for Reading but calling it St Albans.

[AndyWB]

Well, this did definitely move. Very slowly, but after the flare some sort of small satellite was still just visible, then it went brown and faded out, which I guess is it crossing into night.

It must have been a satellite, but I've no idea which.