help identifying an object

[Somnium]

So i was pointing my scope in the direction of NGC 253 at about 10:30 AEST and i noticed something moving in my guide camera. it crossed about 30 MOA in about 3-4 mins, every 10 - 15 seconds it would brighten up then get dim again. my guide scope is a F5 80 mm refractor so i think it would've be about mag 8. my initial thoughts was that it was a satellite, but it was moving too slow to be a LEO sat, maybe something a little higher? could it have been a meteor ? interested to have your thoughts.

[Atmos]

It sounds like it could be a satellite that is moving with the rotation of the Earth, possibly one of the higher altitude ones ~1000km?

[Somnium]

could be Colin, but i don't see why it would be flashing, it wouldnt be tumbling and they dont have a light source. i get that Iridium flares can happen but they happen once as they reflect the sun ...

[gary]

Hi Aidan,

Indeed it is most likely to be a satellite in a very high orbit. We have
routinely observed them ourselves and some do tumble like that,
blinking on and off like a lighthouse every few seconds catching the
ray's suns bouncing off their panels.

Being in such high orbits, they are often clear of being eclipsed by the Earth's shadow
even very late at night.

I recollect one a observing colleague and I would sight regularly up in Leo.
It would be late at night and we would see it start blinking to the point over
the years it almost became an old friend. :)

[Somnium]

sounds like the most likely candidate, i didnt know that some sats tumble like that. i guess it was probably way to bright to be a NEO, and if it was we would have been tracking it and aware of it

[julianh72]

Rather than tumbling randomly, I would guess it is spinning for stability. That would explain the periodic brightening and dimming, as a particular panel comes back into the orientation to reflect more light in your direction.

[big_dav_2001]

Hi Aidan,

I saw something similar a few years ago, turns out it was a failed Russian satellite which was spinning due to it not achieving a stable orbit.

See thread here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=96094

Calsky.com can help you get an idea what it may be..

Dav

[Somnium]

interesting, i am used to satellites shooting across my FOV really quickly, it is always fun to try and get to the bottom of it. although it could be Martians descending to earth in Pods, no one can prove that wrong :P