Ufo?

cjmarsh81 · #1 24-01-2006, 09:52 AM

Hi All

For the last few nights I have seen a bright light. It is north of me and very low in the horizon. The first time I saw it I thought it was a plane, but it hasn't moved for the last few days. When I look at it with my scope it appears to rapidly change colour from blue - green - red.

Does anyone know if this is a Satellite or a Space station or something?

JohnG (John) · #2 24-01-2006, 09:58 AM

If it low to the horizon and to the north around 2100 - 2200 it is propabley the star Capella.

JohnG

Robby · #3 24-01-2006, 10:00 AM

Where do you live, and what time do you see it? It's probably a star. The rapidly changing colour is just the effect of astmosphere (called atmospheric refraction) at such low elevations.

cjmarsh81 · #4 24-01-2006, 10:17 AM

I live in Newcastle and I see it any where from 9pm onwards. It may be visible earlier, but I haven't checked. If it was a star wouldn't it be moving. This thing is stationary.

fringe_dweller · #5 24-01-2006, 10:52 AM

The brighter stars can be freaky looking low on the horizon as Robbie already mentioned. I find Canopus and Sirius to be the most dramatic of course. One time we were out waiting for a comet to rise and we saw canopus rise through some cirrus, and the way it lit up the cirrus it looked like it was impressive naked eye huge dusty comet, embarrassingly we (the other guys who were with me who were quite tired and delirous, it was morning, were the most sucked in) started imaging it!!! LOL and in the photos it is one impressive looking pseudo dusty great comet! hehe we still crack up laughing when we talk about it even today.

Robby · #6 24-01-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjmarsh81

I live in Newcastle and I see it any where from 9pm onwards. It may be visible earlier, but I haven't checked. If it was a star wouldn't it be moving. This thing is stationary.

What do you mean by moving? Star's don't move, we do.. But that's beside the point. Movement would be slow and only detectable over hours rather than minutes. Trust me it is a star! We have the same problem here with Canopus every year. About late winter it is very close to the southern horizon, and looks exactly as you describe. Every year without fail most astronomy clubs will field a phone call or three from UFO hunters, convinced that it is a UFO, due to the refractiveness of it's light.
Cheers

JohnG (John) · #7 24-01-2006, 11:21 AM

I will say it again, if it low to the north and at the time stated it will be Capella.
Visual Magnitude = 0.08

JohnG

cjmarsh81 · #8 24-01-2006, 12:01 PM

It just looked funny with all the coloured lights. Also I thought it may be a satellite as all the foxtel dishes in the area appear to be pointing in that direction.

Thanks for that

JohnG (John) · #9 24-01-2006, 12:16 PM

It is called atmospheric scintillation, it is usually quite pronounced on brighter objects, especially when there is a lot of upper atmoshere wind. It always produces a rash of UFO calls, as a professional rescue operator for some 28 years we were always getting calls about strange flashing lights in the sky, it usually turned out to be Venus, Sirius (one of the most popular), the Army firing parachute flares, aircraft approaching Sydney from the east with their landing lights on at about 50 NM (Standard early morning UFO) etc, you get the picture.

JohnG

rumples riot · #10 24-01-2006, 05:09 PM

Yep definitely a star. Especially, with the colour twinkling. Most stars very low on the horizon are in fact below the actual horizon. Refraction causes them to appear just above the horizon and refraction also causes them to twinkle with differing colours. Besides it is unlikely a UFO would come back to the same spot night after night.

Orion · #11 24-01-2006, 05:11 PM

Radio tower.

rumples riot · #12 24-01-2006, 05:23 PM

Yeah that too

cjmarsh81 · #13 24-01-2006, 06:09 PM

I wasn't serious about it being a UFO. lol.

Just looked at the star chart in the Sky and Telescope magazine and it does appear to be in the same general direction as Capella.

Don't think it would be a radio tower, I think it is too high for that.

stinky · #14 24-01-2006, 06:27 PM

Some excellent chimneys down your way - can be seen from 10s of miles out to sea...

rumples riot · #15 24-01-2006, 06:29 PM

Sure CJ sure. We know.

Ziggy Stardust · #16 24-01-2006, 07:22 PM

Take me to your leader....

no not ther dodgy short guy with the glass's.... the one with the big scope!!!

Tony

DRCORTEX (Lance) · #17 25-01-2006, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust

Take me to your leader....

no not ther dodgy short guy with the glass's.... the one with the big scope!!!

Tony

If theres a freebie in it - yeah man. He may be wrong, but I like to hinge my bets. Long as I don't get a rerun of "Earth vs The Flying Saucers". Bring them on

ciao

Lance

gaa_ian (Ian) · #18 25-01-2006, 11:15 PM

To Quote Monty Python "and pray that there is intelligent life somewhere out in space, because there is bugger all down here on earth !"

Noidea · #19 25-01-2006, 11:26 PM

Given the nature of this thread, I have to take the opportunity and ask.. With all the collective observing done my those reading this, Have any of you ever seen any "Unexplainable phenomena" / "UFOs" whilst staring at dark skies?

RAJAH235 · #20 25-01-2006, 11:39 PM

No.

L.