Between 530PM and 600 PM I saw a ( at first ) bright light low in the northern sky had an elongated bubble look in the 12 x 32 binos and 10" scope , quite dim now .
From my location at Billimari (25-odd KM NW of Cowra) it was an impressive sight. At first (about 5.20pm) I saw a bright, white apparently stationary star-like point that I estimated to be about magnitude -6 (minus 6), about 25 degrees above the eastern horizon. My heart racing I suspected a possible nova or supernova and put out an immediate call on F.B for other observers to confirm. Some saw the same object but in other locations in the sky meaning it had to be close-by and not a S.N.
I managed to resolve it about 5 minutes later using my 15x70mm binos when it certainly looked like a helium balloon. A photo taken a couple of minutes later (after I had cropped and sharpened it) confirmed the identity.
From my location at Billimari (25-odd KM NW of Cowra) it was an impressive sight. At first (about 5.20pm) I saw a bright, white apparently stationary star-like point that I estimated to be about magnitude -6 (minus 6), about 25 degrees above the eastern horizon. My heart racing I suspected a possible nova or supernova and put out an immediate call on F.B for other observers to confirm. Some saw the same object but in other locations in the sky meaning it had to be close-by and not a S.N.
I managed to resolve it about 5 minutes later using my 15x70mm binos when it certainly looked like a helium balloon. A photo taken a couple of minutes later (after I had cropped and sharpened it) confirmed the identity.
I thought this was supposed to stay at or about 110,000 ft, it has dropped 13,000 feet already today as it heads further south..maybe the colder air, but at those heights it is ridiculously cold anyway..wonder if there is a problem...
I notice that it is designed to fly at a constant pressure altitude, given that there are some very low pressure systems in it locality, this may explain the drop in altitude..
As at 12.45pm EAST, it is about 109,000 ft but has turned south and is now heading south east over the southern ocean, about half-way between Adelaide and the edge of Antarctica.
At 2137 when I posted last night it was at 96,000ft this morning it is back up at around 109,000ft. Must have been the effect of night temps. On the live feed it definitely showed the lower altitude.
It is 1943 local time and the balloon is now showing at 100,000feet and dropping, as it is now night, I can only assume it is caused by time of day. Talk about a roller coaster...
From my location at Billimari (25-odd KM NW of Cowra) it was an impressive sight. At first (about 5.20pm) I saw a bright, white apparently stationary star-like point that I estimated to be about magnitude -6 (minus 6), about 25 degrees above the eastern horizon. My heart racing I suspected a possible nova or supernova and put out an immediate call on F.B for other observers to confirm. Some saw the same object but in other locations in the sky meaning it had to be close-by and not a S.N.
I managed to resolve it about 5 minutes later using my 15x70mm binos when it certainly looked like a helium balloon. A photo taken a couple of minutes later (after I had cropped and sharpened it) confirmed the identity.