Static bright flare at 22:46

[Simon128D]

I was just out doing some tests on a scope when I saw a star like object just under a degree south of Alpha Aries, flare up to at least -2 for about 14-16 seconds. It was not a satellite as it was totally static. I was just glued looking at it until it faded away into nothing. Sadly it was not my dream of getting to see a super nova in the moment lol! 

Just wondering if anyone else saw it or would have any idea what it is... This isn't the first time I've seen something like this either. Over the 25+ years of observing I've seen dozens of very bright static flares, neve this low though. 

[jjohnson3803]

Do geosynchronous sats ever flare?  I've seen a few rather bright unknown stationary "stars" slowly fade out over 5-10 seconds.

[Paul M]

I've seen so many of these now I've stopped counting.

The period of visibility being long enough to show motion of a Low Earth  Orbit Satellite but not long enough to allow full scrutiny. In the past I've thought maybe it was a Molniya satellite, highly elliptical orbit  that might look "head on" at times. 

My most recent observation was back in the spring when I'd gone out to look for a SpaceX launch passing overhead soon after sunset. I didn't see the second stage as hoped but I did see a static "flare" Just below Regulus. Close enough to a bright reference to be sure that it wasn't moving. Rapid increase in brightness to about mag 0 then slightly slower decay but still only lasting maybe 10 seconds in total.

Still no idea...

[Simon128D]

I saw another the following night just after midnight and was between Andromeda and Pegasus. I do see these often and make me wonder what they are. I suppose I saw many in the past too but with Iridium flares being prominent then I would have just marked it off as one  of those. 

I suppose there is the chance of seeing a meteor face on, that could give a similar effect but would be much shorter lived. 

They are fun to see and will continue to enjoy the phenomena but of course we all know the real answer to this, its so obvious and simple that no one even bothers to say it any more... It's ALIENS!!! 

[jjohnson3803]

You can find sat info on the Heavens Above web page.  There's an option to plot flyover tracks on star charts for a person's location.  It might take a little digging to find the object though.

Heavens Above

Aliens?  Let me tell you about the purple orb I saw...

Edited August 15, 2022 by jjohnson3803