I'm starting to see strange things in the night

[SacRiker]

Now that I'm getting outside and consistently observing, I've noticed that I seem to come across many objects that I cannot easily explain. Just last night I was looking at Bootes and a point of light slowly drifting up toward the zenith. I'm sure it had to be an airplane, but it didn't really look like an airplane and something about how it moved made it seem very strange. 

Anyone ever see anything they absolutely couldn't explain? It's a bit creepy sitting all alone in the darkness when you see stuff like that -- and exciting. 

[Piero]

Maybe it was a satellite. There are plenty of them out there! I wonder how they don't crash with each other!  

 

[cloudsweeper]

Shooting star or meteor. You often see these when observing. I once saw three white objects swoop over my head then disappear into trees. Now that was spooky!

Doug.

[Pete Presland]

Most of them will be satellite's of some description, there are many types including tumbling Iridium's which appear to blink on and off. Most things have a rational explanation eventually. I saw an odd object in Hercules one morning it turned out to be a rocket dumping its fuel to minimise explosion on re-entry.

[Jimtheslim]

I know what you mean. I've seen several aircraft that appear to hover and then move about in strange directions but I assume it's just the way they are turning as I view them low toward the horizon. The first time I saw the ISS I was thinking what the.....?!

[Linda]

There are also weather ballons sent up. And of course birds, owls.

I think the hovering planes in the distance are flying towards you or away from you. After some time they do a turn and then they move more normally.

When observing, I usually spot several satelites and some Iridium flares. And sometimes meteorites. There is always a natural explanation, even f you don't see it immediately.

The app Heavens above can tell when to expect some of these flares.

[spaceboy]

I have seen space junk which was actually a highlight of my night. Came across it purely by chance while trying to find M15. It wasn't brightly lit but I could distinctly make out the shape through the telescope which resembled a long cylindrical shape. My guess immediately went to an old rocket booster. Had I not been scanning the skies looking for M15 I doubt I would have even known it was there as it was not visible with the naked eye. I have also seen tandem satellites traversing the sky which I was later informed is a well know weather satellite duo. One to look out for are iridium flares as these can get shockingly bright. 

[Dave In Vermont]

If you wish to try to find out what satellite(s) may have been crossing your sky at a given time - and thereby ruin your fantasy about Little Green Men or whatever - you can download and install a satellite-tracking software-program. These will give you a map of our planet and show which satellites were candidates for inspiring the Orson Wells in you. These are fun and free to use. My current favorite is called Previsat, which is from France. Simple and easy to download and set up. Just read the manual it comes with built in:

https://sourceforge.net/directory/os:windows/?q=previsat%203.0

Brought to you courtesy of SourceForge, the same outfit as Stellarium. As well as a great many other free software-programs with us astronomy-folks in mind - here's this:

https://sourceforge.net/directory/science-engineering/astronomy/os:windows/

Have too much fun -

Dave

[ronin]

There is a lot of stuff floating and occasionally not floating around up there.

Satellites are almost normal, sometimes they just appear or disappear - earths shadow, then come weather baloons, and the occasional chinese lantern, assorted planes. One person was very perplexed as they saw a "new" nebula, which it turned out was one of the supply rockets venting it's fuel. Occasionally satellites travel in 2's or 3's, these are the NOSS satellites that are tethered.

I saw one very bright satellite (ISS bright) one evening but going the wrong way that turned out to be simply "Object 84".

Will say that the chinese lanterns are, can be, difficult to determine the distance they are away. So they can appear to move very fast and the wind currants up where they are will move them around the sky in assorted directions.

It is a good idea to have a set of binoculars at hand.

[baldeliftman]

I was out one dark night the owl hooting, rustles in the hedge row, I was trying to take a picture with my phone but I couldn't see were to press to take the picture so I turned the phone over only too see two green eyes staring at me over my shoulder,it took me a few to realise it was my own reflection on the screen, needless to say I didn't stay out very long after that.

[Stub Mandrel]

A barn owl screeching at about 2:00am when I was Perseid spotting scared the doody out of me!

[g30rg313]

11 hours ago, baldeliftman said:

I was out one dark night the owl hooting, rustles in the hedge row, I was trying to take a picture with my phone but I couldn't see were to press to take the picture so I turned the phone over only too see two green eyes staring at me over my shoulder,it took me a few to realise it was my own reflection on the screen, needless to say I didn't stay out very long after that.

Along similar lines I was out late completely engrossed viewing hercules cluster.  Didn't hear our cat padding up behind me.  First I knew he was there was when he nudged my shoulder and miaow ed.  My heart was in my mouth and my stomach hit the floor.  I almost knocked my scope over!  Ended up only able to stay out a few more minutes after that as I was so shaken up.  My hands and legs were like jelly whilst I was trying to put all my gear away.  Stupid cat haha!

[SacRiker]

Seeing things I can't explain has become a nightly occurrence now. I have become fairly proficient at spinning my scope around and using the finder to get a peek at things...but most things are still a mystery. It's amazing how many cool things you see if you just stop being busy and look up! 

[alan potts]

One thing it isn't is little green men coming to see us. I often see what must be a satellite moving from south to north shortly after the sun sets, it appear very bright when low down and when it gets to about 25 degrees above the horizon just fades and it's gone when you would not expect it. I have seen it about 10 times always in about the same place over the last few years. 

I once counted I believe it was 92 satellites that passed through the FOV whilst I was doing an eyepiece review, anyone doing astro photo's must love them.

Alan.

[Andyb90]

Not really seen anything I can't explain.

But I had the fright of my life last time I was at a dark site in Shropshire.

Out of nowhere we heard a loud bang and nearly jumped out of our skin. This was followed by a spot light coming up over a nearby hill and sweeping across the fields. So we legged it over to the car, put the full beam lights on and I jammed the horn on.

We could see and hear shots being fired into the fields so wanted to make absolutely sure whoever it was knew we were there.

I love astronomy but don't want to get shot!

Andy.

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, Andyb90 said:

Out of nowhere we heard a loud bang and nearly jumped out of our skin. This was followed by a spot light coming up over a nearby hill and sweeping across the fields. So we legged it over to the car, put the full beam lights on and I jammed the horn on.

We could see and hear shots being fired into the fields so wanted to make absolutely sure whoever it was knew we were there.

 

Probably 'lamping' for rabbits.

[SacRiker]

3 hours ago, Andyb90 said:

Not really seen anything I can't explain.

But I had the fright of my life last time I was at a dark site in Shropshire.

Out of nowhere we heard a loud bang and nearly jumped out of our skin. This was followed by a spot light coming up over a nearby hill and sweeping across the fields. So we legged it over to the car, put the full beam lights on and I jammed the horn on.

We could see and hear shots being fired into the fields so wanted to make absolutely sure whoever it was knew we were there.

I love astronomy but don't want to get shot!

Andy.

Yeah, that would be pretty scary! Imagine if the car was far away and the booms were close.

[Andyb90]

5 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Probably 'lamping' for rabbits.

Just googled it, yes that's definitely what they were doing.

Helpfully a number of websites advise to 'Never shoot at a pair of eyes' when lamping!

Andy.

[Stub Mandrel]

11 hours ago, Andyb90 said:

Just googled it, yes that's definitely what they were doing.

Helpfully a number of websites advise to 'Never shoot at a pair of eyes' when lamping!

Andy.

And never wear a pair of bunny ears when telescoping ;-)

[Commanderfish]

Each night I see several satellites passing through the FOV of my scope.  I find that if I keep the scope pointed in one direction long enough, another satellite (or the same one having gone all the way around the earth) will traverse in exactly the same trajectory as the first one.  

One particularly nice view I had a couple of weeks back was of Jupiter, with one satellite crossing from left to right across the FOV, and another about a degree or so above it, moving from right to left!  Pretty cool.  

FYI, there are over 4000 man made satellites (combined total for dead and active units) in Earth's orbit now:  http://www.pixalytics.com/sat-orbit-2015/

I even see satellites naked eye, even from London suburbs back before I owned any scopes.

[Stu]

On 27 May 2016 at 22:15, Andyb90 said:

Just googled it, yes that's definitely what they were doing.

Helpfully a number of websites advise to 'Never shoot at a pair of eyes' when lamping!

Andy.

I thought the whole idea of lamping WAS to shoot at the eyes?? ????

[Linda]

On 27.5.2016 at 17:50, Stub Mandrel said:

Probably 'lamping' for rabbits.

A short search taught me that night vision is important to those hunters. That was probably undone when Andy turned on the big headlights. It was a smart thing to do though.

 

@Stu: Typical prey animals like rabbits have eyes on the sides of their head.

[Stu]

1 minute ago, Linda said:

A short search taught me that night vision is important to those hunters. That was probably undone when Andy turned on the big headlights. It was a smart thing to do though.

 

@Stu: Typical prey animals like rabbits have eyes on the sides of their head.

Ahh, I see. Thanks!!

Best not to have an eyepatch on when observing then ??

[Andyb90]

My next purchase I think for dark site trips:

http://www.vestguard.co.uk/covert-nij-levels/ultra-covert-nij-level-ii-2.htm

Andy.