I'm really hoping that someone may be able to shed some light on a object that I've seen in the South Western sky between 0615 and 0625 the last three mornings.
On all three morning's I've been travelling between Mt Pleasant (South Aust, 34 46'S, 139 3'E) and Birdwood (also in SA, 34 49'08"S, 138 57'54"E) between 0615 and 0625. The eastern horizon has been behind me, the conditions have been quite cold but clear and the sun has not yet risen. Given it is a rural area there is very little if any light pollution.
I have seen what I can best describe as looking like a single, large and extremely bright aircraft landing light (no port or starboard lights visible) at about treetop height infront of me. The object has been visible for anything up to 5 minutes and then suddenly vanishes. It really does look like the landing lights of an approaching aircraft, but given that there are no strips near by that could accomodate a large aircraft, I'm not certain as to what it is.
I don't think its an irridium flare or similar, but would really like to know what it is I'm seeing each morning.
No I haven't had a camera with me when I've seen this object - methinks my camera will mysteriously find its way into my car this evening just quietly.
No I haven't had a camera with me when I've seen this object - methinks my camera will mysteriously find its way into my car this evening just quietly.
psst.. you're allowed to have a camera in your car
A few of questions
1 how high is the object above the horizon?
2 Are you driving/riding?
Do you stop to observe the object with Binoculars?
Jupiter is in the West/South/West, at around fifty degrees altitude.
Ron
Height: in the distance, approximately 1.5 to 2 'hands' above the horizon.
I was driving at the time - very little traffic, almost no light pollution, little if any cloud cover, some patchy fog at ground level, very cold and clear. The sun had not yet risen - only a pink glow in the E sky.
No, I didn't stop to observe - travelling to work.
I had wondered if it might be Jupiter, however this was extremely bright with a yellowish tint to it.
No the sun hadn't risen yet.
As to movement - a little hard to judge at 80-100km/hr . Having said that, the first time I observed the object it 'appeared' to be travelling across the horizon (L-R).
What really got me was how it quickly it appeared to vanish - no fade out, just no longer there.
I've checked with BoM incase it was a pre dawn weather balloon, but their release times are 0230 and 0845.
Height: in the distance, approximately 1.5 to 2 'hands' above the horizon.
I was driving at the time - very little traffic, almost no light pollution, little if any cloud cover, some patchy fog at ground level, very cold and clear. The sun had not yet risen - only a pink glow in the E sky.
No, I didn't stop to observe - travelling to work.
I had wondered if it might be Jupiter, however this was extremely bright with a yellowish tint to it.
That would agree with my last post.
don't apalogise, thats what we are here for to help if we can
Ron
No the sun hadn't risen yet.
As to movement - a little hard to judge at 80-100km/hr . Having said that, the first time I observed the object it 'appeared' to be travelling across the horizon (L-R).
What really got me was how it quickly it appeared to vanish - no fade out, just no longer there.
I've checked with BoM incase it was a pre dawn weather balloon, but their release times are 0230 and 0845.
Not sure, but if you get a good photo-op, remember the golden rule of UFO photography. It has to be way out of focus!
I input the Lat/Long coordinates you gave me into Stellarium and set the time for 6:00am and faced west and played the time forward from there.
The only object within this view that is bright enough to be as you described like a landing light is Jupiter which is descending in the sky at this time. It is also getting VERY big lately as it is approaching the best time of the year to view it through telescopes etc.
The star Antares is also there but this is more red and nowhere NEAR as big or as bright as Jupiter.
I was surprised just how bright and big Jupiter is with the naked eye and it and Venus are both bright enough to have often been mistaken before for a plane (and also used as an excuse to debunk UFO sightings) . Since I got into astronomy I often wonder just how blind I used to be to these sorts of things considering my technical background but am glad I can identify things that quite frankly seem amazing to me because they have always been there but I never really took any notice until now.
I would have to say that I am really glad now that I have a sunroof in the car because clear nights are now so much more fun to drive around in and peek through the "mobile observatory" window...
I am pretty sure this is right, otherwise, make sure you take some Hersheys M&Ms in the car just in case its ET coming back "home" oooooooooouuuuuuucccccccchhhhhh!
The truth IS out there.
PS. I have taken a screenshot of what it looks like in Stellarium at this time facing west from your starting point on the 12th May at 6:22am and you can see all the suspects in there.
Chris
Last edited by Screwdriverone; 14-05-2008 at 10:52 AM.
Reason: added screenshot
OK - thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a look at Stellarium tonight and see if it makes sence. I'll also put my camera in to my car in readiness for tomorrow morning's trip into work. Having said that I will not be able to post any pictures until I get home tomorrow night - I work in an industry that is remarkably camera shy.
I was once watching for Jupiter rising at a new site, and saw this bright ball of light with a yellowish tint in about the place I was expecting Jupiter to come up. I watched it through the telescope adjusting the focuser, then I saw tiny blue and red lights blinking near it and realised it was a plane. I had forgotten to allow for height of the hills in the East , so Jupiter took an hour longer to appear than the rise time given in the Almanac.
. Since I got into astronomy I often wonder just how blind I used to be to these sorts of things considering my technical background but am glad I can identify things that quite frankly seem amazing to me because they have always been there but I never really took any notice until now.
. I had forgotten to allow for height of the hills in the East 
