Meteor???

[bmitchell82]

Hey fellas, wondering if somebody can help here, i was out in the back yard explaining and showing the mother in law Orion, now i know recently we had the peak metor showers coming from this area and as i was told. it would look like the meteors where "originating from Orion"

So i was looking pointing and saying about the great orion nebula when i saw a bright flash, im talking Canopus bright and say about the same size as Canopus if that for 1 second or so. Did i see a meteor???

[stevejack]

Could it have been an Iridium Flare? I think one was due to go over at around that time with a mag of -1 in Perth??

[bmitchell82]

not sure, though explain to me this iridium flare... sounds kinda interesting.

[stevejack]

Check out this link for a reasonable explanation: http://www.satobs.org/iridium.html

Also, if you want to catch one live check out www.heavens-above.com, set your location and take a look at the flare predictions over the next 7 days.

Good luck!

[bmitchell82]

Nah that isn't it, it didn't streak across the sky, it was like a star was there, then it wasn't, it would have been approximately mag 2 -3 just to the right hand side of orions belt. almost as if something was coming front on...mmmm the step mum was there and we both saw it because for a start she said is that a shooting star.

Anybody else ?

[Liz]

Hmmm, still possibly an iridium flare, as they dont streak across the sky .... you just see a bright flash, lasting only 1-2 sec.

[Terry B]

A meteor coming straight at you resulting in almost no lateral movement maybe?

[Blue Skies]

Probably a tumbling satellite, then. They can flash quite brightly every so often and can be quite slow moving compared to some.

[theodog]

Brendan, do you have a time?
My guess is sat or direct meteor if early enough. Irrid's usually close to sunset so later only a meteor.

[leinad]

I was thinkn hey coulda been a satellite, although you didnt see it at 4am'ish , lol :whistle:
I caught these two satellites I think late last night through Orion NNW.

[bmitchell82]

the time i saw it would have been about 845 - 9pm on saturday. All the iridium flares that i have seen so far have all streaked if only for a few seconds but they still moved, this did not move one bit it was a bright flash almost like a star just to the right hand side of orions belt maby 2 deg away.