NUFORC Sighting 27151

Occurred: 2001-09-20 22:30 Local
Reported: 2003-01-18 10:36 Pacific
Duration: 2-3mins
No of observers: 1

Location: Bangor (Northern Ireland), , Northern Ireland

Shape: Light


bright orange flashing light

I was taking photos of the sky down on the local beach when I saw a very bright flashing orange light but I didn't see from where it came. It was as bright as sirius when it flashed and moved rather slowly. It flashed about once a second reguarly, there was no sound. I was slightly surprised but I have seen tumbling satellites b4 and also the NOSS triplet so I assume that it was a tumbling piece of debris.

The only strange thing was the colour and the fact that the photo I have shows it turned slightly, but I put this down to atmospheric refraction. I have never seen an orange satellite but it could be that this object was reflecting a space sunset? It also faded away which I assume was it entering the earth's penumbra. Each flash has left a white dot on the orange line of its exposed (30sec) trail so you can work out how fast it was going plus picture gives direction against stars.

Maybe other people have seen this and we can clear this mystery up.

Posted 2003-03-21

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