Bright flash in Casseopia last night

[m_j_lyons]

I was out walking my dogs last night and happened to be gazing at Casseopia when I observed a brilliant flash. It was not a flare up/down as is often seen with satellites - rather it was a short BRIGHT flash. About 20 seconds later I did note a satellite tracking away from the general area. I've seen satellites flare up/down many times...but is it possible for that period of time to be compressed into a second or less?

Time: about 1915 pacific standard time

Location: Roseville, CA, USA

I've never seen anything quite like it.

Cheers,

[ronin]

Sounds like an iridium flare. The iridium satellites are well known and their panels relect light at predictable times.

heavens-above has the data.

Do you have your lat and long ??

[brantuk]

Yup - sounds like an iridium flare from the description

[ronin]

Roseville CA:

Iridium flare at 19:10:59 call it 19:12.

Magnitude -8, so a bright one.

It should have been at 46deg az, reasonably well up and you should have been looking SSE.

[m_j_lyons]

Hmmm...the mystery thickens - I was actually walking to the west when I saw it. I actually found the heavens-above website and took note of the 19:10 flare...interesting.

My lat/lon is 38.7819°N, 121.3989°W.

[LukeSkywatcher]

It does sound like a flare but as we know not ALL flares are Iridiums.

Is it weather satellites that travel east/west or west/east, while communication sats travel N-S?