Just after dark last night I saw a satellite. As I was watching it, it slowly got brighter until it was almost too bright to look at, but quickly went back to a faint star-like light. I assume the satellite turned and the sun hit a reflective surface..... any ideas?
2006-08-31 00:12:17 · 7 answers · asked by Tuan 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You probably saw an Iridium flare. The Iridium satellites have antennas that sometimes catch the sun at juuuust the right angle to appear extremely bright for a few seconds to a person at juuuust the right place on the ground. They are sometimes bright enough to see in the daytime! The heavens above web site can predict when and where these flares can be seen.
2006-08-31 02:37:23 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing unusual happening. The satellite simply moved into the earth's shadow.
You saw the satellite in the early evening. High above the ground, it's still daylight, so you see the bright sun reflected.
As the satellite experiences sunset and dusk, it rapidly dims in your vision. Soon, it's night where the satellite is, and you can't see it any longer.
2006-08-31 09:19:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anne Marie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, you saw a satellite, or an Iridium flare (meaning that the sun's light reflected on the satelite's solar panels), what happened is that the sun's light reflected on the panels as I said, and it started to get stronger and stronger as it got nearer to the sun rays as it moved, then after it reflected all the rays that reached it, it moved away from the rays, so it started to fade away. try with your watch or a piece of glass and you will find the same effect
2006-08-31 09:48:49 · answer #3 · answered by Marty McFly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is another possibility. I have seen a similar occurrence myself. What you saw may have been a meteor coming straight at you. It starts out quite dim, but does not move in the sky, then flares brightly and finally winks out.
If what you saw did anything like what I describe above, then you may have seen the same thing.
2006-08-31 08:33:03 · answer #4 · answered by sparc77 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The International Space station will look like what you're describing. It becomes the brightest object in the sky when it is passing over you.
2006-08-31 07:18:48 · answer #5 · answered by Moose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that probably wasn't a satellite. satellites are usually very dim, in fact they're much dimmer than stars. you may have seen a plane or a helicopter
2006-08-31 07:16:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I assume you are right.
2006-08-31 07:15:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋