Two Bright Satellites Side By Side - 21:40 Tonight!

[Wedge]

Hi,

I have just come in form observing, and at about 21:40, I saw two bright satellites, about a finger width apart, (one to the left of the other) in the sky, close to Zenith. They were both pretty bright, maybe Deneb or Vega magnitude? And faded in Cassiopia. :shock:

Unfortunately, I only saw them from about Zenith to Cassiopia, and am not sure if they were as bright before then...

A search on Heavens above reveals nothing - there were no Iridium Flares, or ISS and ATV passes at the time.

Can anybody shed some light onto this please - it was a great sight!

Remy

[Jeff RV]

http://stargazerslounge.com/index.php/topic,31931.0.html

Jeff.

[mik]

I saw them to quite stunning

Mick

[russ]

I saw them two. They faded out as they passed through Cassiopeia at 21.44. But they were quite stunning.

Russ

[Talitha]

Maybe they were 3rd generation NOSS satellites? Never saw them myself, but it sounds like a possibility.

[SteelRat]

I saw two sats together too - not too bright from my place - one behind the other. Spotted them in Cyg and followed them 'til they faded in Cass - then I looked back down into my scope's eyepiece and saw them whip straight through double cluster.

[Wedge]

http://stargazerslounge.com/index.php/topic,31931.0.html

Jeff.

Fair Play

Are we actually sure that it was two Iridium flares? Like I said, Heavens Above has no mention of them at that time...

Very stunning either way!

Remy

[NickH]

You mean these two

Switched from imaging VDB142 when the fog got too much...and these rolled over one sub

(click to enlarge)

[SteelRat]

The two I spotted were later on than the OP time. Flying single file, not arm in arm...

[Wedge]

Yes, they were apart just like in Nick's image (which is a very good one BTW )

[NickH]

That's just one raw 5 minute totally unprocessed, compressed and reduced sub frame...

Thanks!

[Jeff RV]

http://stargazerslounge.com/index.php/topic,31931.0.html

Jeff.

Fair Play

Are we actually sure that it was two Iridium flares? Like I said, Heavens Above has no mention of them at that time...

Very stunning either way!

Remy

I only meant what a coincidence.

It was great that you and others also noticed these Remy, Can't be sure if it was Iridium flares but they appeared and disappeared very quick, and seemed to be closely following about 1 or a little more degrees apart before quickly disappearing, so i would have thought they were?

Jeff.