NUFORC Sighting 113039

Occurred: 2014-08-27 22:45 Local
Reported: 2014-08-29 18:07 Pacific
Duration: 1-2 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Sartell, MN, USA

Shape: Unknown

Anomolus Satelite moving EAST TO WEST????

About 22:30 I sat down in a plastic chair facing east to watch a patch of sky for north-south satelites. The patch I watch is bordered by leafy tree branches.

At about 22:45 I saw a pinpoint of light moving FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST across the sky patch at the normal rate of speed for a satelite in low earth orbit. I lost sight of it as it passed overhead and I failed to move from my chair. Total time in view was 1-2 minutes.

This struck me as remarkable because I know that most satelites are launched with an EASTWARD component to gain a launch speed asist of up to 1000 MPH from the earth's rotation.

Have you had any similar reports? Can NORAD shead any light on this object?

NUFORC Note:

We agree with the source of the report…visible satellites do not have a westerly component to ther groundtrack, as they orbit Earth. We suspect that the witness is a skilled sky watcher. PD

Posted 2014-08-31