NOSS 3-4 (a) & (c) satellites 29.12.2016 6:30am

[Pete Presland]

Not an astronomical event, but it was interesting to witness. Also it might provide info on future unexplained sightings.  

As a seasoned astronomer bright pairs lights and blinking lights in regions of skies, that you don't expect to see them are still interesting. Out imaging Jupiter for the 4th morning this holiday, i noticed a blinking bright light heading south and a pair of lights heading north at the same time (6:30). The pair of lights flared in brightness as they approached Leo, much like you would expect an Iridium flare would. A quick look on Heavens above  http://www.heavens-above.com/AllSats.aspx and it confirmed they were a pair NOSS 3-4 (a) & (c) satellites (Naval Ocean Surveillance System). It would have made a fine wide-field image with them flaring just below Leo.

I have no idea what the "blinking" satellite was though.

[D4N]

There are some tumbling satellites that appear to blink as they catch the light when they spin.

[Pete Presland]

On 29/12/2016 at 08:39, D4N said:

There are some tumbling satellites that appear to blink as they catch the light when they spin.

I think that is certainly what it was, the NOSS satellites were very interesting.