Saw something last night, need some help to identify.

projectfallback (Mitch) · #1 14-08-2011, 09:21 PM

Hi there,

Last night (Saturday 13th 2011, approx. 11:45PM) I saw a 'shooting star' just as I happened to be looking at the moon, there was a lovely halo surrounding it.

The object had a somewhat pale-cyan/blue tinge to it, and appeared out of no where only to travel for a short span of the sky and dissipate.

My question is, is there anywhere one can look up recorded events like these? Just curious as to whether it was something significant or just some satellite debris etc.

Thanks

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #2 14-08-2011, 09:33 PM

I think it was just an iron meteor.
They glow with different colours due to their composition.

leon · #3 14-08-2011, 09:41 PM

Have to agree with JJJ, however I'm sure you went Wow

to yourself, lovely sight, these Meteors.

Leon

projectfallback (Mitch) · #4 14-08-2011, 11:49 PM

That's pretty cool, thanks for your help!

iceman (Mike) · #5 15-08-2011, 07:37 AM

Unless it was an iridium flare?

You can use Heavens-above.com to see if there was any iridium satellies passing by at that time.

But they move slowly, not like a meteorite.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #6 15-08-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Unless it was an iridium flare?

You can use Heavens-above.com to see if there was any iridium satellies passing by at that time.

But they move slowly, not like a meteorite.

11:45pm sounds late for an iridium flare. The last flare of any kind on the 13th for my part of Sydney was listed at 6:59pm. The cloud meant no chance of seeing it.

I find http://www.calsky.com/ is easier to get historical data from than heavens-above. 4:30am to 7:30pm (standard time) seem to be about the limits.

Andrew

iceman (Mike) · #7 15-08-2011, 08:14 AM

Oh I didn't check the time

You're right of course

cfranks (Charles) · #8 15-08-2011, 09:00 AM

It might have been a Perseid meteor. Peak shower was due 12/08.

Charles

Ro84 (Roberto) · #9 16-08-2011, 06:18 AM

Sure, it can be a Perseid meteor.

From its direction you can try to trace back its way. Perseids radiant is in Perseus constellation, so if you saw the meteor going from N to S (or NE to SW), there is a high probability that you've seen one of the latest Perseids.