Strange observation

I was just out in the back garden 5 minutes ago having a cigarette and saw two stars in the eastern sky (near Taurus) that were unfamiliar. They were about 2 or 3 degrees apart and almost as bright as Mars. While I was watching them they both faded out of view. Other stars are visible in that area of the sky so it wasn't cloud hiding them. They appeared (and disappeared) close to Elnath in Taurus.

Looking at Starry Night I can't see them so I'm wondering what the hell they were. They weren't moving so I don't think they were satellites and besides - would two satellites be that close to each other?

Did anyone else see this?

I dont really know what it could be. Possible it could be a GRB?

Thats a good question,
If they were not moving, I'd imagine that rules out artificial satellites??
Are you absolutely certain they were not moving or maybe they were moving very slowely??

I'm certain they weren't moving. They were when I went outside and had faded completely within a minute. They both started fading more or less at the same time but one disappeared before the other.

I hadn't considered GRBs but two of them so close together? I'll keep my eye on grb.sonoma.edu/ and see if it shows up there.

I actually did notice two 'stars' very close to each other fading away as i was just out in the back garden also with the canon300d! :shock:
I have seen 3 satellites in very clos proximity, say .5 a degree from each other travelling the same direction and at the same speed, and suddenly they split up in different directions! This is very odd!
You never know ,maybe both of the 'stars' died at the same time!! :lol:
Strange
Matthew C

Steve - I saw them over in Monasterevin at Michael O'Connell's gaff (cheers from both of us for a great night Michael - regards to Denise). I couldn't give a time but they were really bright - maybe 2 degrees apart and at first, I thought satellites. But if they were moving, I couldn't tell. They were really bright - brighter than Mars. 30 seconds after I first spotted them, they faded. The one closer to Taurus (ie the eastward one) seemed to fade quicker than the other.

I'd guess they were satellites - perhaps heavens-above would help?

Cheers

Dave McD