I just wandered out into the backyard and looked up (as you do) and there was a VERY bright satellite cruising across the sky. It was approximately magnitude -0.5 (similar brightness to Canopus) and moving at a medium pace about 40 degrees above the SW horizon, heading south. The only other satellites I've seen with similar brightness and speed have been the shuttles, ISS, and good old Mir. The shuttle and ISS have separated, but are currently over South Africa, so they're out. I have no idea what else it may have been. Heavens-above gives no clues. Interesting.
Hi Mick,
Yeah I saw that one, but from my place it would have reached a maximum of 12 degrees above the horizon, whereas this thing was 40 degrees or so. It was also travelling slower than the usual Iridiums, pretty much the same speed as the ISS does.
There were no other Iridiums around. It was 22:40 Sydney time too, a time for which it's unusual to see such a bright low satellite.
