Flashy things over SCP? Are we alone?

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Guys and Gals,

Has anyone else noticed some flashing specks over the south pole recently??

I have been checking my polar alignment over the last 2 days and have noticed satellite looking objects travelling from EAST to WEST over the South Pole and are flashing at periodic but not exactly consistent times. They resemble flash bulbs rather than a steady light.

Could these be "bits" of the Satellite that Uncle Sam destroyed with a missile the other day glinting in the sun as they spin around? Or maybe I am going mad? I know the lobotomy scar is starting to itch....

Every other satellite I have seen in this area tracks from S to N and is a steady, strong light.

Hopefully the truth is out there?????
Help me Mulder!

Chris

[xelasnave]

Aircraft?
alex

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Alex,

Nope, these have no nav lights at all, are the size of satellites and visible only through my 11x70 binoculars moving from Crux to Hydrus in direction and I have only noticed them in the last two days.

Chris

[xelasnave]

Irridium flares you could check the heavens above site and probably figer if sats
and given a lot of folk look in that direction maybe someone else saw them also ... I have seen aircraft as a single ball of light around dusk ..light must be coming of a window but it overpowered the flashing lights..I looked and looked and it mustta got past the sweet spot and you could see the flashuing lights and that it was aircraft..light can reflect to give strange impressions...that plan was heading sw at Sun set at an angle of maybe 20 degrees to line of site... anyways I did not see anything the night before last so I dont know if I missed anytjomg or it is a local thing..which is a fair chance
alex
alex
alex

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

There was a mag 0 Iridium flare forecast for 7 mins past 8 last night in that direction and a few more over the coming week. Seems the most likely explanation.

Bill

[CoombellKid]

Chris,

I spied something similar a couple of months back, but it was travelling
through Orion very slowly west to east. I observed this for several nights.
There was some discussion on here about it at the time. I think it was
some new Japanese satelite. I brought it up in my 20x80's and it was
still just a flash. I haven't seen it since, perhaps it's a similar one. Apart
from that it could be a tumbler, but I would rule this out especially if
it stays in the same area. And from your description I would probably rule
out an Iridium flare, they tend to ramp up and down over several seconds.

I'll keep my eye out for it, if the clouds disappear

regards,CS