[meteorite-list] NEO LAST NIGHT

From: Marco Langbroek <marco.langbroek_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 09 May 2012 19:02:00 +0200
Message-ID: <4FAAA308.5010106_at_online.nl>

> On 5/9/2012 9:15 AM, Steve Dunklee wrote:
>> Saw an near earth object last night _at_4:45am central time. First saw it just below polaris in the northern sky with a brightness like Venus at its brightest. where it started was obscured by a roof. It continued in an easternly direction passing the bottom of Cassiopea and faded out just to its left in i think the bottom of ?Draco?
>> Found no postings on heavens above for an astroid passing by so if im first this ones name is Lesa2012.
>> Cheers
>> Steve
>
>
> There are no NEOs anywhere near that bright. The only orbiting object
> that bright is the ISS. Most likely, this was a VERY near Earth object,
> like an airplane or weather balloon.
>
> Chris

I agree: this cannot have been a NEO.

General west to east movement and fading description fits a satellite.

It can't have been the ISS by the way, given the time.

But there are quite a number of other satellites than can flare to well into the
negative magnitudes.

- Marco

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Dr Marco (asteroid 183294) Langbroek
Dutch Meteor Society (DMS)

e-mail: dms at marcolangbroek.nl
http://www.dmsweb.org
http://www.marcolangbroek.nl
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Received on Wed 09 May 2012 01:02:00 PM PDT