Ufo

[sopticals]

:eyepop: Any idea what this might be. Seen from my location (Oamaru NZ) at 2pm local time.

Thought it might be weather balloon, but seems the wrong shape, and no sign of instrument package. Moved in a approx south to north direction at around an angular displacement of roughly 10-12deg per hour.

Excuse poor photo, I'm not into photography, just put my cheapy digital camera to the eyepiece and shot. Used my 4"f9.8 frac at 50x,(image correct way up). The direct view at the eyepiece was much sharper.No lettering, just a bluish belt which was fatter at globe center than near the edges. Also noted,a bright spot at 1.30 on the circumference, a dark spot at 6 o'clock, and another similar sized but less distinct light colored spot at 12.

Stephen

[JohnG]

Don't know about a UFO but FlightRadar 24 is tracking a HiBal over NZ at the moment, it is around 111,100 feet and tracking at around 41 knots. Last week Google Loon overflew NZ at around 63,000 feet and tracking East.

Don't know if this is what you saw but sounds like a good candidate to me..

Cheers

[StuTodd]

Weather balloon not Ming the Merciless.

Had a call about it and had a look through bins. Deffo a balloon,

Stu
Dunedin

[deanm]

I agree with previous: no doubt a weather balloon.
I disagree with the OP: an instrument package is clearly visible at 2 o'clock in your (rather good, actually!) photo.
Just have to consider altitude vs. viewing angle.
Dean

[JimsShed]

Curious. Last Friday night 13/5 at around 11pm AEST I saw an object transit across the moon. The object was nicely rounded and totally black which made me think it was relatively close to Earth. The transit speed was constant and took about 8 seconds. Also the size was proportionally similar to the object in this picture.

[sopticals]

The photo orientation is "right way up".An instrument package would more likely be at/near the objects lowest point to the earth, ie around 6 o'clock. The spot at 2pm was "very bright", most likely sun reflecting from the objects surface at that point. my viewing angle around 40deg above north western horizon.

Stephen

[Max Vondel]

Just a reflection in the out of focus optics
No aliens here or anywhere in the Cosmos for that matter.
I predict we are totally alone apart from some microbes here and there

:P

[xelasnave]

Well who is responsible for all the abductions and probing?
Alex

[N1]

They finally managed to lauch that NASA balloon from Wanaka. Front page article in the local rag (http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/383483/balloon-launch-possible-today) today. Appears to correspond with JohnG's chart.

Steve send it in to the Oddity for some coverage. It's a neat observation if confirmed.

[julianh72]

It's probably this one:

The UFO Circling the Earth Really Is a Weather Balloon This Time
http://gizmodo.com/citizens-of-earth-stop-reporting-nasas-science-balloon-1777072718

http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon9/flight669nt.htm
http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon9/Google669NT.htm

[julianh72]

Based on the Google Maps tracker, it looks like IISers in the Sydney-Newcastle area might get a chance to spot it later on today, approaching from the South-East - get your binoculars and telescopes out!
http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon9/Google669NT.htm

[Max Vondel]

Our imaginations are!
No seriously
;)

[xelasnave]

I have been visiting a "science site" that is fiercely mainstream and yet has sections for religion, politics, paranormal and ufos.
There is a poster there who believes in ghosts and ufos and I am sure he would ask my question but he unlike me would be very serious.
If I posted there the photo in the op here he would seize upon it as more evidence of aliens.
I am tempted but no.
Alex

[N1]

Probably a good idea Alex, it would be a waste of time.

Believing in UFOs - WTF does that even mean? So he has no idea what it is ("unidentified") yet he has enough evidence to know that it's flying? I'm not sure whether that's oxymoronic or just moronic. :screwy:

[xelasnave]

Hi Mirko
Clearly he is well educated writes very well but ....Well I suppose it gets back to this....
If you can't say something nice say nothing at all.
I sometimes forget that but I become happy when I remember.
He is very entertaining and passionate in his belief so its all good.
Alex

[julianh72]

Now heading somewhat south of Sydney - maybe Wollongong / Goulburn / Canberra will get a glimpse?
http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon9/Google669NT.htm

[astroboy]

I think I just saw this an elongated bubble is the sky obvious in 12 x 32 bins' and looks great in the 10" scope.
My best guess its the NASA SUPER BALLOON

Did take a few hand held shots with a 600mm lens will post if it shows any thing of interest .

Zane

[sheeny]

Yep. It's NASA's Super Pressure Balloon launched from NZ yesterday.

Al.

[Max Vondel]

Diversity of opinion is healthier for the species
It's not that I don't want to believe
But science and an understanding of the universe's history
including more than a few near catastrophies
and lucky incidents convinces me otherwise.
I do however subscribe to Nick Bostrom's Paper on the "Simulation Argument"

Mankind just doesn't want 2 be alone
But I think we are utterly alone :(
It's almost heretical to suggest it
Therefore it's worth discussing..
:)

[OzEclipse]

I spotted it as I was driving home from work(Canberra). Didn't know what it was but it was an impressive sight, naked eye binos and telescope.

When I got home I set up a 4" f12.5 Mak on a camera tripod and grabbed some still shots and movies. One pic attached now. Might try to stack some and post later. This shot was taken at 17:20AEST. ISO1600 1/90sec prime focus. It faded into the sunset terminator about 15 mins after this shot was taken.

Have a report that I have to finish for work by Friday.
Got to get back to writing. Might process and post something on the weekend

Joe

[N1]

Excellent work Joe! :thumbsup:

[PeterEde]

Is anyone tracking this object?
We have a dull lit object in the western skies over Adelaide

[StuTodd]

That's it, see here at http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/newzealand/wanaka.htm

[OzEclipse]

Thanks Mirko.



Peter,
There is a link to google map tracking link in Julian's message, #11 of this thread showing the balloon is currently near Adelaide. It was quite bright when the sun was up and even after ground level sunset yesterday, somewhere between the brightness of Jupiter and Venus. It remained bright after sunset and then faded when the Earth's shadow caught up with it. Then it went from bright white to yellow to orange to dull red then vanished.

Joe