A strange BURST in the sky... Help!

[Nikolai De Silva]

Hello everyone!

I saw a light in the sky, little above Aldebaran today evening around 19:30 in our time (14:00 GMT). It was like a burst, which was at once brighter than Jupiter and then finish. Not even for a second! Was white in colour. Not a streak, therefore surely not a meteor. It was really like a star, burst and then over. 

I can't think what this is! Does anyone know what this could be? Does anyone have any experiences like this?

Hoping for responses!

Nikolai.

[Astronomist]

Maybe a satellite flare? There used to be a constellation of satellites called 'Iridium' that famously flashed very brightly at predictable times, but I don't think any of those are still in orbit. modern satellites do flare sometimes, but not as brightly due to their small solar arrays versus the huge ones on the Iridium satellites.

[Earl]

It could of been a head on meteor.

[jjohnson3803]

I'm pretty sure the last of the Iridiums was deorbited.  I'd guess a head-on meteor.  I also think there could be rare or unstudied atmospheric phenomena that pop up from time to time.  A little ball of plasma (?) rolled across my living room floor once during a lightning storm, so who knows?

 

 

[Earl]

My GoPro star trails pick up a fair few head ons but nothing super bright so far

Edited January 12 by Earl

[Nikolai De Silva]

@jjohnson3803and @Earl, it was not even a for moment. I think if it is a meteor, it should be more than a moment. It was like a star, blinked and off.

[Roy Challen]

18 hours ago, Earl said:

It could of been a head on meteor.

Thankfully it wasn't a meteor on head😆